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HEART SEARCHING 

SERMONS 

AND SAYINGS 



BY 



E. E. SHELHAMER 

Editor "The Repairer." Also Author and Publisher of "Heart Searching Talks to 
Ministers," "Ups and Downs of a Pioneer Preacher." "Pointed Bible Read- 
ings on Various Subjects, " "Rules and Helps to Holy Living, " "Pop- 
ular and Radical Holiness Contrasted," "Is There a 
Burning Hell?" "False Doctrines and Fanaticism 
Exposed," -'Prevailing Prayer and Its 
Results," Etc., Etc. 




REPAIRER PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
ATLANTA, GA. 



1917. 



33X ?3^3 

.S47 h4 



Copyright, 1917 

By 

E. E. SHELHAMER 



V 

MAR 23 1917 

©CU457554 



^Dedication. 
"Go tljose wl)0 ma? read and resolve to take 
a pronounced stand for aggressive Christianity 
is tljis volume lovingly dedicated b? tl)e author. 



CONTENTS 
PART I. 

SERMONS PAGE 

I. — Marks of an Awakened State 9 

II. — Marks of a Justified State 20 

III.— Marks of a Sanctified State 31 

IV. — Marks of a Growing Soul 46 

V. — Marks of Spiritual-Mindedness 60 

VI.— Marks of a Backslidden State 71 

VII.— The Witness of the Spirit 84 

VIIL— A Profitable Investment 99 

IX.— What it Costs to be Damned 116 

X.— Mile Posts Toward Hell 130 

XL— Tribulation 142 

XII.— Be Filled With The Spirit 153 

XIII.— Pressing Through to Christ 167 

XIV.— The Heavenly Vision 181 

XV. — More Than Conquerors 191 

XVI.— Desperation 205 

XVII.— Hindrances to Growth in Grace 212 

XVIII.— Peter's Downfall and Restoration 221 

XIX.— The Passing of the Wicked 231 

XX.— The General Judgment 244 



PART II. 

SAYINGS. 

Close Class Meetings 259 

Ability and Humility 270 

Caved In 271, 

Union 271 

The Initiatory Step 271 

A Good Test 272 

A Solemn Thought 272 

Spiritual Banking 273 

The Fire Gone Out 273 

Indecision • 274 

4 



Contents. 5 

God's Original Design 274 

Equilibrium 275 

Soul Affinity 275 

How Does He Impress You 276 

Little Things 277 

Your Worst Enemy 277 

Worth Remembering 278 

More Than Conquerors 278 

The Old Box Car 279 

Down Then Up 279 

A Coward 280 

In Tune 281 

Mistakes 282 

Misunderstandings and Privations The Making of Men 283 

Living In Advance 284 

A Sullen Mood 284 

Cause of Defeat 285 

Two Classes of Young People 286 

Keeping Still Under Pressure 287 

Discontentment 288 

Spiritual Dentistry . . . . r 289 

True and False Impressions 290 

The Danger of Covetousness 291 

When Faults Become Carnal 292 

Feeling Hurt 294 

The After Effect 295 

Is There a Difference? 296 

Receive Ye The Holy Ghost 298 

Divine Secrets 299 

Unbalanced Christians 301 

Three Common Dangers 303 

The Perils of Success 308 

Rewards of Self-Denial • 312 

The Value of Criticism 316-320 



INTRODUCTION. 

At first thought it seems strange to us mortals that, in 
the great plan of human redemption and salvation, con- 
ceived in eternity, executed in time and revealed in the Bi- 
ble, God should have chosen men of the earth such as we 
are to be His partners in the execution of this most won- 
derful scheme. Such, however, is the fact, and upon re- 
flection, it appears to be the very best possible way to work 
out this marvelous plan. Angels, excelling in strength, in 
holiness and in perfect obedience to God's will, would have 
failed where men have succeeded. 

The Christian religion suits and fits every condition of 
humanity, and they are made better by coming in contact 
with it: and those who have received the full benefits of 
its influences, theoretically, experimentally and oractically, 
are always anxious that others shall share in its benefits. 

And so it has come about that our beloved brother, "Rev. 
E. E. Shelhamer. has written another book for publication. 
He seems to be imbued with an irrenressihle desire and 
puruose that as many othor -nPOpTp as possible shall share 
with him the wonderful effpets of this glorious gospel as 
it has come to his heart and life. 

He has requested mp to write an "Introduction" to it. 
or. T sttDDOse he mpans. to introduce him and his new book 
to the reading nubb'c. T am now doinn* that for the book. 
He dops not need to be introduced to the readers o^ spirit- 
ual books, nor would it be sppm.lv for me to do so. as he is 
better known amonq- that class of readers than I am. 

T commend this book. Tt will do anv one p-ood to read 
it. Tt is unioue and in a class by itself, o^lv it is like all 
other books in that it should be read with discretion, but it 
will be a blessing to all who read it. To be the greatest 
assistance nossible to its readers, the author makes use 
not only of his own very remarkable exneriences in these 
manv years of Christian life, but also of his observations 
in the experiences of a multitude of others whom he has 
met in his very extensive travels and labors. The blessing 
of God will surely follow this effort of our dear brother to 
help spiritualize a very worldlv world. 

WALTER A. SELLEW, 
Bishop of the Free Methodist Church. 

Jamestown, N. Y. 

6 



Introduction. 7 

Another book, "Heart Searching Sermons and Sayings," 
has been presented to the reading public. I have carefully 
read the advance sheets of this new book from the pen of 
Rev. E. E. Shelhamer, and have no hesitancy in commend- 
ing it. These sermons were not only delivered by an earn- 
est preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ and accomplish- 
ed much good at the time of their delivery, but they are 
worthy of preservation in permanent form, that their in- 
fluence for good may be felt when their author has gone to 
his reward. These discourses came as the result of much 
waiting on the Lord; they were born of prayer, but were 
not written out in full until after their delivery. They are 
upon the most practical subjects, discuss the most impor- 
tant themes, and are calculated to awaken men and women 
and build them up in holiness. 

There are sermons published more ornate in style and 
more beautiful in construction than are these, many of 
which skim the surface and leave the heart untouched, but 
Brother Shelhamer's sermons go down deep. They pene- 
trate the heart, uncover sin, produce conviction, and lead 
the soul onward and upward. This being true, they can- 
not fail to benefit those who read them. 

The author is not only holy in heart, pure in life and 
possessed of a rich experience in divine things, but he has 
a spiritual insight into matters that enable him to under- 
stand the needs of those to whom he ministers, and having 
the courage also to declare fearlessly the truths adapted to 
them, his sermons accomplish their God-given purpose and 
produce fruit that blesses humanity and glorifies Jehovah. 

We bespeak for these sermons a hearty reception by 
truth-lovers everywhere, and trust there shall be such a 
sale of them as shall be commensurate with their value. 

REV. J. T. LOGAN, 
Editor of the Free Methodist. 



PREFACE. 

And here is another book, this time a companion 
to "Heart Searching Talks to Ministers." Those 
who are not. Christian workers will find in this 
volume truths that apply not only to the ministry, 
but also to common people in every day life. 

After frequent requests that we give to the 
world in a permanent form some of our Heart 
Searching Sermons, we have complied and here- 
with hand them to those who may desire to read 
them. The author makes no pretence whatever 
to literary merit, and as some of these sermons 
were dictated, they may lack the inspiration 
which accompanied them when delivered before 
large audiences. 

Under Part II, we have added some of our 
"Sayings/' written as Editorials, covering a pe- 
riod of twenty years. This may account for an 
occasional sameness of expression which would 
not be the case had they originally been intended 
for a book. 

The object has 'been to produce something cal- 
culated to inspire and undeceive, rather than that 
which sparkles with wit and eloquence. The ear- 
nest prayer of the author is that many souls may 
get to heaven who never would have reached that 
place of bliss had it not been for this humble ef- 
fort. 

Yours to spread Scriptural Holiness every- 
where, E. E. S. 

8 



SERMON I. 
Marks of an Awakened State. 

Text. "Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest 
and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light." 
Eph. 5:14. 

In considering this text, we desire to notice : 

I. What is implied in "being asleep" or "dead 
in sin." 

II. What it means to be awakened. 
III. The promise given, "Christ shall give 
thee light." 

I. First,, we are to show what is implied in 
being asleep or dead in trespasses and sins. 

There are two kinds of sinners, the awakened 
and the unawakened, the penitent and the impen- 
itent. That which will condemn men in the day 
of judgment will not he simply the fact that they 
have been sinners, but that they have been im- 
penitent sinners. We are told to "awake to 
righteousness and sin not." Every impenitent 
soul is asleep to his true condition. He is uncon- 
scious of his real danger. Yea, he is not only 
asleep, but dead ! Dead to the voice of conscience 
and of God. At first thought you may be ready 
to deny this. You say, "Look out upon the surg- 
ing, dashing multitudes as they trample, one upon 
another in their mad rush after -pleasure and 
gain! Are these asleep and in a state of death? 

9 



10 Heart Searching Sermons 

Better use any other figure than this," you say. 
But God says it — that men are not only unawak- 
ened, but paralyzed and spiritually dead. "You 
hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses 
and sins." 

Men can be very active and yet be asleep. 
Unregenerate men are not only asleep, but are 
somnambulists, — they walk and talk in their sleep. 
"For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and 
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes 
have they closed; lest they should see with their 
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand 
with their heart, and should be converted, and I 
should heal them." Acts 28:27. "Having eyes, 
see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not." Mark 
8:18. Men are wakeful to earthly things, but 
asleep to eternal realities. 

The unawakened sinner is blind to his eternal 
danger, deaf to the wooings of the Spirit from 
above and the rumblings of hell from beneath. 
"Through the pride of his countenance, he will 
not seek after God : God is not in all his thoughts:" 
He net only refuses to think of God, but banishes 
the thought of death, judgment and eternity. He 
dreads to dwell on these things and when he does, 
in order to quiet his fears, he justifies himself by 
hiding behind some inconsistent one, and thinks 
he will stand about as good a show as the gener- 
ality of men. 

Now, it is the work of the ministry, assisted 
by the Holy Spirit, to "sweep away the refuge of 
lies" behind which the sinner is hiding, and bring 



And Sayings. 11 

him face to face with the fact that sooner or later 
he must meet his sins, look squarely at his past rec- 
ord and finally stand for himself ''before the judg- 
ment seat of Christ." He "comes to himself" and 
now for the first time he realizes that there is no 
possible way of escape, except iby way of the 
cross. He feels himself surrounded on every side 
by Omnipotence, death and the judgment. He 
quakes and trembles and for the time hardly 
knows what course to pursue. In front of him is 
a yawning hell, behind him a black mountain of 
unrepented sins, and overhead are the frowns of 
an offended God, There are three things he can 
do: confess and forsake every sin and thus find 
mercy; or reform enough to ease his conscience 
and thus try to satisfy himself with a false peace ; 
or lastly, smother conviction, dive into sin deeper 
than ever, and seal unto himself damnation. What 
shall he do? He finds himself walled in on every 
side, without any hope of escape. 

At length he cries out in desperation, " Whither 
shall I go from Thy Spirit ? or whither shall I flee 
from Thy presence?" 

"If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; 
if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell 
in the uttermost parts of the sea ; 

"Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy 
right hand shall hold me. 

"If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me ; 
even the night shall be light about me. 

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee: but 



12 Heart Searching Sermons 

the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the 
light are both alike to Thee." Psa. 139 :7-12. 

The only thing left to !be done is to surrender, 
throw himself upon the mercy of the court, and 
plead the merits of Christ. 

II. What it means to be awakened. 

The interpretation that John Wesley put up- 
on an awakened or penitent state implies sub- 
mission and obedience to all the claims of God. 
Let us study a few of the general rules of Meth- 
odism and compare ourselves with them. If you 
have any criticism, have it out with Mr. Wesley. 
Perhaps Chas. G. Finney was a greater revivalist 
than he, but we are of the opinion that John Wes- 
ley's deep piety and sound theology have done 
more to mold Christian character than any other 
one agency, second to the life and writings of St. 
Paul. 

Mr. Wesley declared that a "truly awakened 
heart" — mark you, he did not say one who was 
fully saved, but (he Who is genuinely awakened — 
will live up to these general rules. 

"In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or 
ten persons came to Mr. Wesley in London, who 
appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and ear- 
nestly groaning for redemption. They desired, 
as did two or three more the next day, that he 
would spend some time with them in prayer, and 
advise them 'how to flee from the wrath to come, 
which they saw continually hanging over their 
heads. 



And Sayings, 13 

"That he might have more time for this great 
work, he appointed a day when they might all 
come together, which, thenceforward, they did 
every week, namely, on Thursday, in the evening. 
For these, and as many more as desired to join 
with them, for their number increased daily, he 
gave those advices from time to time which he 
judged most needful for them, and they always 
concluded their meetings with prayer suited to 
their several necessities. 

"This was the rise of the 'United Society,' first 
in Europe, and then in America. Such a society 
is no other than a company of men having the 
form and seeking the poiver of godliness, united 
in order to pray together, to receive the word of 
exhortation, and to watch over one another in 
love, that they may help each other to work out 
their .salvation." 

"It is therefore expected of all who continue 
therein, that they should continue to evidence 
their desire of salvation, 

"First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of 
every kind, especially that which is most gener- 
ally practiced; such as, 

"The profaning the day of the Lord, either by 
doing ordinary work therein, or by buying or sell- 
ing." Hear ye this, all ye Methodists and holiness 
people who sell meals and song books, and take 
subscriptions for papers, and travel on the 
Lord's Day ! Is not this profaning and seculariz- 
ing the, Day of the Lord ? 

"Brother going to law with brother; return- 



14 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing evil for evil; using many words in buying or 
selling J' I have known some who made loud pro- 
fessions to go to law over a dead hog, line fence, 
or an automobile accident, and demand an un- 
reasonable price when the whole affair could have 
been settled by arbitration; and if this was not 
possible, better have lost everything. God says, 
"Now therefore there is utterly a fault among 
you, because ye go to law one with another. Why 
do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not 
rather suffer yourselves to 'be defrauded? Nay, 
ye do wrong and defraud and that your breth- 
ren." I have known others who did not go this 
far, but were narrow and exacting, " using many 
words in buying and selling." He who is ' 'truly 
awakened" will desist from all this. How is it 
with you? 

"Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation, 
particularly speaking evil of magistrates or min- 
isters." Here is the universal sin of the world. 
Here is the sin of which nearly all are guilty. If 
you do not believe it, let me call upon you one 
and all to step out separately, and take oath be- 
fore God that you have not reflected in any way 
upon an absent person during the past week. I 
will not go back farther than that, for I fear few 
would be found clear in this matter. James de- 
clares, "If any man among you [and that takes in 
preachers and holiness professors] seem to be re- 
ligious, and bridleth not his tongue, this man's re- 
ligion is vain." In accordance with this, Mr. 
Wesley taught that the "truly awakened" are so 



And Sayings. 15 

far saved as to avoid evil speaking of every kind. 
This will also include evil praying. And what do 
I mean by evil praying? I mean praying for ab- 
sent ones publicly in such a way as to prejudice 
others against them. God help us ! This is back- 
biting by way of the Throne. 

"Doing ivhat we know is not for the glory of 
God; as, the putting on of gold and costly ap- 
parel." Reason it away if you will, tout the Holy 
Spirit considered the wearing of gold (wedding 
rings and gold watches not excepted) of sufficient 
importance to specify it when He dictated the 
Scriptures; and those who are led by the same 
Holy Spirit now, will most certainly obey what 
He inspired then. The Spirit and the Word agree. 

"Singing those songs or reading those books 
which do not tend to the knotvledge or love of 
God" How about the light songs and instrumen- 
tal music which affect the feet more than the 
heart ; and those sentimental books and continued 
stories Which bring temporary joy rather than 
solidity of character? 

"Laying up treasures upon earth." Covet- 
ousness is the sin of the Church and the sin of 
old age. There is no hope for one as long as he 
is covetous. The great question then is, how 
much can one lay up, without becoming affected ? 
"For this ye know, that no covetous man, ivho is 
an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom 
of Christ and of God." 

"Borrowing without a probability of paying; 
or taking up goods without a probability of pay- 



16 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing for them." This comes close home. There 
is a -host of evangelists and church members 
all over the country who have absolutely no con- 
science about borrowing money and dodging lit- 
tle bills, — leaving some one else to pay them. Just 
think of it ! It seems some of these dodgers aim 
at being "broke" or "out of change," so they can 
borrow "a dollar or so." They know that the sum 
is so small that the magnanimous lender will not 
"dun" them and so it goes unpaid. God 'help us! 
I want to burn this home. If you are here and 
guilty, I advise you to stop your gush and gab, 
and get right with God and your fellow men ; for 
Wesley says you are not even awakened; and I 
would rather believe him than you. It is simply 
alarming, 'how some of these rascals can honey 
around elderly and simple hearted people who 
have a little money and borrow, or pull it out of 
them and then leave, never to be seen again. 
These same hypocrites have the gall to get up in 
the pulpit and denounce other people in strong 
terms for the very things of which they them- 
selves are guilty. Mr. Finney has declared that 
"He who is dishonest in small matters is not hon- 
est in anything." And a greater than Finney has 
said, "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also 
in much." Lu'ke 16:10. We need a mighty re- 
vival along the line of keeping promises and pay- 
ing debts, and it ought to begin in the pulpit and 
front pews. 

There are many other characteristics of the 
"truly awakened," mentioned in "these general 



And Sayings. 17 

rules/' but we will refer to only a few, and then 
pass on. 

"It is expected of all who continue in these 
societies, that they should continue to evidence 
their desire of salvation, 

"Second, by doing good, especially to those 
who are of the household of faith or groaning so 
to be; employing them preferably to others, buy- 
ing of one another, helping each other in busi- 
ness; and so much the more, because the world 
will love its own and them only." 

An awakened soul is so far saved from greed 
and selfishness as to be willing, if need be, to lose, 
or at least fail to make so much as otherwise, in 
order to help the household of faith. Can you 
look your struggling 'brethren in the face and say 
you are clear in this respect? 

"It is expected of all who continue in these 
societies that they should continue to evidence 
their desire for salvation, 

"Third, by attending upon all the ordinances 
of God; such are: The Supper of the Lord; Fam- 
ily and private prayer; Searching the Scriptures; 
Fasting or abstinence." I wonder if as many as 
one-third of you who profess religion have fam- 
ily and private prayers regularly ? If we were to 
put the test, perhaps many of you would be em- 
barrassed. And again, how many of you know 
the blessedness of searching the Scriptures, with 
new and fresh light upon them every day? Fur- 
ther still, have you ever gotten the victory over the 
damorings of the flesh so that "fastings or ab- 



18 Heart Searching Sermons 

stinence" have become a real means of grace to 
you? This is what some of you need and you 
would be better off in every way, — soul, mind and 
body — if you were to learn this secret and gain 
this victory. 

"These are the general rules of our societies, 
all of which we are taught of God to observe, 
even in his written word, which is the only rule, 
and the sufficient rule both of our faith and prac- 
tice; and all these toe know the Spirit ivrites on 
TRULY AWAKENED HEARTS." 

Oh, that all who make any pretense to religion 
were as far advanced as this awakened soul! 
What glorious outpourings of the Spirit would 
we belhold! And now you who are particularly 
concerned know for yourselves if you possess 
these wholesome marks of one who is "truly 
awakened." If so, you have reason to hope for 
the fulfilment of the third part of our text, name- 
ly, 

III. Christ sltall give thee light. 

Here is one of Christ's "SHALLS." When 
He says, "Shall" and we cooperate with Him 
something is sure to come to pass. If you, dear 
friend, can conscientiously measure up to this de- 
scription of a "truly awakened heart," then you 
have reason to believe that Christ will lift up His 
countenance upon you and give you His light — ■ 
the assurance that you are accepted of Him. 

God treats us a little as we treat Him. When 
we give up everything, then we get everything in 



And Sayings. 19 

return, but if we withhold something, then He 
withholds His glory. It is useless, yea, a mockery 
to call upon God as do some; "Save, save me!" 
"Sanctify, sanctify me!" God is waiting and 
anxious to save, sanctify and satisfy. What He 
wants of us is not so much vociferation, but a 
coming to Him with heart and mouth full of 
yielding and yesses. When we thus "prepare the 
way of the Lord and make His paths straight" it 
is then that we inherit the 'blessing promised in 
the text, "Christ shall give thee light." If you 
have thus prepared the way of the Lord, you have 
a right to believe unto salvation and to believe 
NOW. 

"This slumber from my spirit shake; 

Warned by the Spirit's inward call, 
Let me to righteousness awake, 

And pray that I may never fall; 
Or give to sin or Satan place, 
But walk in all Thy righteous ways. 

"Oh, never suffer me to sleep 

Secure within the verge of hell; 
But still my watchful spirit keep 

In lowly awe and loving zeal; 
And bless me with a godly fear, 
And plant that guardian angel here." 



SERMON II. 
Marks of a Justified State. 

Text: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace 
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. 

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but 
righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 
Rom. 14:17. 

In treating this subject I desire to dwell more 
particularly upon the second part of the text, but 
will pause long enough to quote from Rev. Luther 
Lee's Theology, on justification: 

"Sinners are justified by God, when He par- 
dons their sins, remits the punishment they de- 
serve, and treats them as though they were really 
just or as though they had not sinned. Justifi- 
cation and regeneration are concomitant, that is, 
they transpire at the same time and exist togeth- 
er. It may be said that God never pardons a sin- 
ner without renewing him, and never renews a 
sinner without forgiving all his past sins at the 
same time. The power of sin is broken, the prin- 
ciple of Obedience is planted in the heart and holi- 
ness is the rule and <habit of life. 

"Justfication is a work done for us, but re- 
generation is a work done in us. 

"Justification changes our relation to God and 
restores us to His favor by a pardon, while regen- 
eration changes our state, our real character. 

20 



And Sayings. 21 

Justification removes the guilt of the sin which 
we have committed, while regeneration removes 
the love of sin and gives power over sin. ,, 

The Scriptures sometimes speak of the "king- 
dom of God" and the kingdom of heaven inter- 
changeably, hut as a rule they mean the same 
thing, viz., the work of grace upon the earth, or in 
the heart of man. Here we have the Trinity of 
Grace as it affects the soul. 

Paul was both a negative and a positive 
preacher. He tells us what the kingdom is not 
and then what it is. It is not "meat and drink" 
— not being a stickler for ordinances and cere- 
monies, such as baptism, feet washing and a cer- 
tain manner of partaking of the Lord's Supper ; 
not simply being hygienic relative to pork eating, 
coffee drinking and a dozen other things. It is 
good to be properly enlightened on all these 
things, but God bless you, you may be as straight 
as a Pharisee in all these respects and sadly lack- 
ing in "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy 
Ghost." 

l5hese three graces are a happy combination, 
and when in proper relation to each other, rep- 
resent a well saved soul. But if one of these is 
unduly magnified it will produce a lop-sided con- 
dition. For instance: Let one apply himself to 
"righteousness" out of proportion to the others, 
and he will become legal, rigid and Pharisaical. 
Let another dwell upon "peace" exclusively and 
he becomes an easy-going formalist. And let a 
third stress the "joy" side of the Christian life 



22 Heart Searching Sermons 

more than "righteousness and peace" and he or 
his converts will become enthusiasts and fanatics. 
The fact is when we try to build an arch in 
order to span the chasm between God and man, 
if we use but two kinds of material our structure 
will crumble and fall. But if we build one abut- 
ment with "peace" and the other with "joy" and 
then unite the two by dropping in the keystone 
of "righteousness," we have a bridge that will 
not quiver though the artillery wagons of earth, 
hell or heaven all meet in fierce conflict thereon. 

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is likened 
unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three 
measures of meal until the whole was leavened." 
As a rule leaven is considered a type of sin, but 
in this instance it represents the process of grace. 
Why did Christ say "three measures?" Why 
not four? Everything He said had a significance 
and if we did not read His words so superficially 
we would more often get his full meaning. Later 
on, Paul takes up the pen of inspiration and tells 
us what those three measures of meal were: 
"The very God of peace sanctify you wholly and 
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body 
be preserved blameless." God wants to save and 
permeate the entire man, from head to foot. 

Let us notice more fully what is implied in 
these three characteristics of the kingdom of 
God. 

I. Righteousness. Righteousness means right- 
ness, right thinking, right living. Now a thing 
is not right, until it is right. No man can be in 



And Sayings. 23 

right relationship with God and wrong relation- 
ship with any woman, and no woman can be right 
with God and in wrong relationship with any 
man. This principle applies equally to corpora- 
tions and their employees. The one cannot exact 
unreasonable, unrighteous service, the other can- 
not demand, or resort to unjust protection. 

It is a nice thing to know and feel that you 
are rightly adjusted to everything and everybody, 
so that no one, dead or alive, could rise up and 
point a bony finger at you, saying, "You know you 
wronged me and you have never been sorry, or 
tried to make it right ;" and even the devil will be 
silenced because of lack of proof, when he tries 
to bring up something in the past that was not 
right in your spirit or conduct. Yea, that an an- 
gel from heaven could not ransack the books 
through and through and find a single thing .but 
what 'has been fully met, confessed to the bottom 
and the Precious Blood sprinkled thereon. Bless 
God, you may have a clear record, so that you can 
look both ways, back to the cradle, then in front 
of you to the Throne and in each direction every- 
thing is clean and clear ; you are "justified freely" 
and as innocent as though you had never sinned. 
Friend, is this your experience ? If not, it should 
be and it is worth double all you will have to pay. 

II. Another element in this kingdom is 
"peace." It stands to reason that any one who 
maintains such a relationship to God and man as 
we have already described will have peace. "Peace 
that floweth as a river" — not a stagnant pond or 



24 Heart Searching Sermons 

dry water branch, but a living stream, flowing 
constantly, sometimes over the banks and some- 
times not so hign, yet always enough to call it a 
"river." 

We are also told that this peaceful soul never 
takes offense or becomes touchy. ''Great peace 
have they which love Thy law : and nothing shall 
offend them." NOTHING! 

When he is noticed or unnoticed, praised or 
blamed, pushed forward or backward, he refuses 
to let anything "offend" him. Oh, that every one 
who professes religion had this experience. If 
you have, you do not allow yourself to "feel hurt" 
when another is promoted or elected instead of 
you or your favorite. You do not pull off in spirit 
from your rival when he returns from some great 
gathering, and every one is anxious to hear him 
relate the news. You do not show a sensitive 
spirit When the 'bishop or some one in authority 
crosses or reproves you publicly. The fact is, if 
you have what you profess to have, you are al- 
ways kind in your speech and manners. "Noth- 
ing offends." Nothing gets you out of sorts ; no- 
body can catch you off your guard and aggravate 
or ruffle you. You get sweet out of bitter and sun- 
shine out of darkness, for you actually believe that 
"all things work together for good" to you since 
you love God. 

And again, we read that "The peace of God 
which passeth all understanding shall keep your 
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 

III. Another element in the kingdom of grace 



And Sayings. 25 

is "joy in the Holy Ghost." A joyless soul is a 
barren soul. He may be straight and exemplary 
in many respects, but if he lacks this holy joy 
he is a weakling, for we are told that the "joy of 
the Lord is your strength." In proportion as one 
is rigid and radical and yet lacking in victorious 
joy, he is repulsive to sinners. Before they will 
consent to give up their sinful pleasures they 
want to see something more inviting. Hence you 
who are lacking in this respect are in reality a 
hindrance rather than a help to the cause of God. 

God wants you to be on top. You cannot com- 
pel your neighbors and loved ones to yield to 
Christ, but instead of your being crushed in spirit 
and your loved ones having a good time going to 
hell, it ought to foe reversed and you ought to be 
the one around home who is triumphant and joy- 
ful. You can pray through once for all for those 
of your household, after which, go on your way 
rejoicing, and if any are sad and sighing, let it 
be those who are headed hellward. 

Notice the source of this joy. "In the Holy 
Ghost." There are three kinds of joy — Human, 
Satanic and Divine. Human joy may be neither 
Satanic nor Divine, 'but simply a human delight 
at the thought of taking some trip, acquiring an 
education, getting out of debt, or getting mar- 
ried. One may be in the attitude of prayer or 
in a public service when one of these thoughts 
flits across the mind. The anticipation is so 
pleasant that sometimes the individual shouts 
aloud for joy, but it may be simply human. 



26 [Heart Searching Sermons 

Then there is a joy that springs from neither 
the human nor the Divine, hence it must be Sa- 
tanic. James says, "Go to now, ye that say, 'To- 
day or tomorrow we will go into such a city and 
continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get 
gain : 

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the 
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a 
vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then 
vanishes away. 

"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we 
shall live, and do this, or that. 

"But now ye rejoice in your boastings : all such 
rejoicing is evil." According to this, the devil 
must be prime planner and promoter for men 
who go into business simply to "get gain." In- 
stead of some business or real estate openings be- 
ing "Providential," it would be more nearly cor- 
rect to say they were "snares of the devil." Many 
a man has succeeded well, to his everlasting ruin. 

Then again, Satanic joy is manifested when 
a man seems to take satisfaction in hurting the 
tender feelings of his wife, in doubting her love, 
or when a woman can fast, or pout for spite. 
The same 'hellish delight finds inward pleasure 
in abusing a dumb animal, a little sister, or at 
the news of the downfall of an enemy. Such "re- 
joicing" should be found only in the bosom of 
demons, but too often it is evinced in the lives of 
men. 

But the joy we are considering is Divine joy — 
"joy in the Holy Ghost." This kind of joy is not 



And Sayings. 27 

dependent upon favorable surroundings, but is 
more likely to be felt and seen in the midst of 
adversity and misunderstanding than elsewhere. 
This joy does not depend upon things that are 
seen but upon things that are unseen. It does not 
center in self, but in God. Such joy is insepara- 
ble from peace, yea, it is peace bubbling over, 
peace on a frolic. 

We often hear compromisers say to seekers, 
"Perhaps you are expecting too much," or "You 
are looking for feeling." As a rule when you 
hear such instruction, you can set it down that he 
who gives it is superficial. True, a soul may hin- 
der the operations of the Holy Ghost by desiring 
a certain kind of manifestation, such as seeing 
a great light, or Christ upon the cross, or by hav- 
ing a tingling sensation, or a knock-down blessing. 
But though the victory seldom, if ever, comes as 
is pictured in the mind, yet when it does come it 
far surpasses all anticipations. 

Expect too much! God bless you, a whole 
kingdom is to be set up within you. A kingdom 
presupposes a king, and this King is "Christ in 
you, the hope of glory." A king is supposed to 
have power, not only to resist all outside attacks, 
but to suppress all internal strifes and uprisings. 
And this is what Christ does in regeneration. In 
regeneration He reigns within, in entire sanctifi- 
cation He reigns without a rival, Hallelujah! Is 
this your experience? If not it should be. 
Application. 

Now notice the effect of this symmetrical ex- 



28 Heart Searching Sermons 

perience. The person who has it is like a cube — 
no difference how it is jostled or kicked about, it 
is always right side up. The next verse tells us 
that, "He that in these things serveth Christ is 
acceptable to God and approved of men." In 
what things? In righteousness. — 'being rightly 
adjusted to God, to men and to his own conscience. 
In leading "a quiet and peaceable life in all god- 
liness and honesty." In joy — in maintaining a 
joyful, victorious spirit under all circumstances. 
Yes, 'he who is thus properly and scripturally 
saved will be acceptable to God and approved of 
men. Say, friend, if you have What we are talk- 
ing about, every man with whom you have ever 
had any dealings will have confidence in you. He 
may criticise your praying or shouting; he may 
take exceptions to your methods, but down in his 
heart he approves and believes you have the real 
thing. Hearken ! If there is a living being who 
is stumbling over something in your conduct, con- 
versation or business transactions, it is time for 
you to stumble. Do not dare to profess to be 
right with God if any one can truthfully say you 
have wronged him and never did all in your pow- 
er to make it right. Brother, do not wipe your 
mouth or toss your head and walk off saying, "If 
he wants to stumble, 'he will just have to stum- 
ble." God plainly says if your course is right 
your fellow men will ''approve" of it. He also 
says, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and 
there rememberest that thy brother hath ought 
against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar 



And Sayings. 29 

and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, 
and then come and offer thy gift" 

You cannot afford to let any one stumble over 
anything- that looks like dishonesty in business 
or familiarity with those of the opposite sex. God 
help you ! If that land deal, horse trade, grocery 
or rent bill is not perfectly straight and satisfac- 
tory with the other party your first business is 
to stop professing until everything within your 
power has been done to make it so. Yea, you 
should not only have things settled evenly, but if 
need be, in order to have peace, go farther and 
as the apostle says, rather take wrong. Why do 
ye not "rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded ?" 
If you were to do this in order to please God and 
win an offended one, God would see to it that in 
the end you lost nothing. Is not a "good name 
rather to be chosen than great riches" ? 

It is alarming how some souls will give up 
many hard things and consent to suffer hardships 
and misunderstandings, but if a few cents or dol- 
lars are involved or an apology is necessary, these 
same souls will cavil over it, put it off and go on 
professing, trying to make themselves believe 
they are all right, while others are stumbling over 
them into hell. I tell you nay, but except you 
correct everything that can be corrected you will 
find out when it is too late that you have been 
woefully deceived. 

Unless these three evidences — "righteousness, 
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost," have complete 
possession of you, you better look well to it lest 



30 Heart Searching Sermons 

you have been satisfied with a negative experi- 
ence, and are likely to come up in that day and 
be found wanting. "Examine yourselves, wheth- 
er ye ibe in the faith ; prove your own selves, know 
ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is 
in you, except ye be reprobates." 



SERMON III. 
Marks of a Sanctified State. 

Text: "For God bath not called us unto uncleanness, 
but unto holiness." 1 Thess. 4:7. 

God has been calling us from oar earliest re- 
collection ; yea, from all eternity. We are calied 
first, to "obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus 
Christ," and now we are again "called unto holi- 
ness." And what does this call imply? I wish 
first to notice what it does not imply. 

I. Holiness does not imply freedom from hu- 
man infirmities. God's Word does not teach, nor 
do we preach, that we can attain to an experience 
in this life which will free us from faults, igno- 
rance, or errors in judgment. It is not a condi- 
tion of the head, .but of the heart. If God can 
see that the purpose of the heart is pure and free 
from self-interest and self-seeking, He pro- 
nounces us pure, even though we may have many 
infirmities of the head and foody. Though Paul 
had a "'thorn in the flesh" — perhaps weak eyes, 
or a disfigured face, or an impediment in speech, 
yet he cried out, "Most gladly therefore will I 
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of 
Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleas- 
ure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in 
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for 
when I am weak, then am I strong." 

31 



32 Heart Searching Sermons 

II. Holiness does not imply freedom from 
wandering thoughts. Sometimes while in the at- 
titude of prayer, or when taking the sacrament, 
one will be troubled with wandering thoughts 
and unholy suggestions. The devil has the au- 
dacity to enter the holy of holies, and there sug- 
gest outlandish things of which we were never 
guilty. He takes special delight in haunting be- 
fore the soul's vision old scenes and memories 
which were formerly enjoyed, but are now ab- 
horred. He would not be a devil if he did not do 
this. He does it, not with a hope that we will 
then and there go and engage in those degrading 
things again, but simply to annoy and sidetrack 
the effectual prayer. 

Wesley said that we could not keep the birds 
from flying over our heads, but we could keep 
them from "building nests in our hair." In like 
manner we cannot keep Satan from bringing old 
things before the imagination, but we need not 
harbor or entertain them. 

When you go to a dry goods store, you are not 
responsible if the clerk takes all the bolts of cloth 
from his shelves. He spreads thern out and tries 
to get you to take this or that, but you are not 
responsible until you decide upon a certain fabric. 
When you say, "I will take this," and he measures 
it and cuts it, then you become responsible. Like- 
wise, Satan takes us up into a "high mountain" 
and shows us many things "in a moment of time." 
But all we need to do is decline to accept. 

We might say right here that it is to your In- 



And Sayings. 33 

terest to refuse to lend the mind or bodiiy powers 
to sin or Satan, for if you do, it will give him an 
advantage in calling up these same things later 
on, after you 'have decided to abandon them. Do 
not get on intimate terms with the devil, or any 
of his devices. Though you may repent and be 
forgiven, yet the battling against the old imagi- 
nations and "doings which were not good," will 
consume much valuable time and energy. 

III. 'Holiness does not imply freedom from 
temptations and fiery trials. Many times those 
who 'hate the doctrine of holiness charge us with 
teaching more than God demands and more than 
we profess. We will never be exempt from trials 
and temptations. All the -saints of old have been 
tried and tempted. Yea, our Lord Himself was 
tempted "in all points, like as we are; for in that 
He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is 
able to succor them that are tempted." 

There is a difference, however, in the nature 
of the temptations coming to the entirely sancti- 
fied and the unsanctified. The former, who are 
in the forefront of the battle, must meet the most 
sudden and terrific fire from the enemy. Since 
there is no carnal tendency in such to which he 
can appeal, Satan must meet them in the open 
and do what he does quickly. But with the un- 
sanctified, Satan finds within that which responds 
to his suggestions and solicitations. And as long 
as such is the case, the deceiver can afford to take 
his time and suffer a temporary defeat, for he 
has a fuse laid to the explosive within, that is 



34 Heart Searching Sermons 

likely to blow up his victim at the opportune mo- 
ment. Oh, the need of eliminating every unholy 
principle with which the devil can play and fon- 
dle. 

It is like the young tiger that was captured 
when but a cub. The captor romped with it like 
a dog. But finally the plaything became full 
grown, and on a certain occasion, while scuffling, 
the master's hand was scratched. As soon as the 
animal scented and licked the human blood, he be- 
came wild and vicious, leaped upon his master 
and tore him to pieces. Thus it is with the treach- 
erous carnal nature. The only thing to do is to 
have it destroyed and cast out. Do not run the 
risk by letting the thing remain and grow on 
your hands. 

Though we will never be exempt from tempta- 
tion, the effect of overcoming temptations is to 
our advantage. It is a little as when a hunter 
goes out to kill game. Suppose that every time 
he killed a deer its swiftness went into his body ; 
when he killed a fox its craftiness was transferred 
to the hunter; when he brought down an eagle 
the power to rise above everything became his; 
when he killed a lion the strength of the king of 
the beasts was also 'his ; and so on, ad infinitum. 
One can readily see that if the hunter kept on 
killing, he would finally become well-nigh omnip- 
otent. Nothing could overtake him, and if it 
should, he would have power to tear it asunder. 
This may not become a reality with a hunter, but 
it is the case with an overcomer. Every time he 



And Sayings. 35 

overcomes a temptation, the strength of that trial 
enables him to more easily overcome in the future. 

David killed first a bear, then a Hon, then Go- 
liath : and according to this we ought to be over- 
coming greater obstacles all the time. 

IV. Holiness does not imply freedom from 
soiirow and ''heaviness through manifold tempta- 
tions.'' Some people get the idea that we ought 
never to weep at a funeral, or feel distressed at 
the condition of the world or things around us. 
This is a mistake. The more we are like our 
Lord the more keenly do we feel the weight of a 
lost world. This is the difference, however, be- 
tween the wholly sanctified and those who are 
not : The former have power to pray through and 
rise above sorrow and pressure more quickly and 
easily than the unsanctified. Dark unbelief has 
a tendency to blind and weaken the soul, so that 
such a one is not wide awake and at his best for 
God. 

We might mention other things that holiness 
of heart does not imply ; sucb as a state wherein 
there is no further development : also, where there 
is no possibility of falling, etc., etc. But this is 
sufficient. 

Now let us notice the other side and study for 
a little while what holiness implies. 

I. Holiness of heart implies freedom from all 
unholy tempers: as for instance, Pride. When 
I speak of pride I do not mean stylish dress or 
fashionable society. No ! These are the outcome 



36 Heart Searching Sermons 

of pride, but the thing- itself lies deep within. A 
holy heart never feels the stirrings of PRIDE — 
an inward exaltation in view of some accomplish- 
ment, promotion or appearance. A holy heart 
rather feels deeply humbled before God that He 
should have seen fit to have used such a one. He 
feels that any other poor soul could have done 
just as well or better, for after all, if there is any- 
thing accomplished that is praiseworthy, he owes 
it all to God. Mark you, an unsanctified soul may 
assent to this, but when praise or promotion 
comes, he will unconsciously feed upon it and 
look with satisfaction upon himself, rather than 
with adoration upon his Lord. 

Then there is pride of opinion, pride of pa- 
rentage and pride of nationality. It is that 'hate- 
ful thing that is quick to speak up and resent a 
contradiction; quick to defend itself, quick to 
misinterpret and misconstrue. Wesley said that 
souls possessing these elements "do not have 
What I call Christian perfection; if others will 
call it so they may. A.s an instance: They do 
not receive reproach with gentleness ; no, nor even 
reproof. Nay, they are not able to bear contra- 
diction without the appearance, at least, of re- 
sentment. If they are reproved, though mildly, 
they do not take it well; they behave with more 
distance and reserve than they did before. If 
they are reproved or contradicted harshly, they 
answer with harshness ; with a loud voice, or with 
an angry tone, or in a sharp, surly manner. They 
speak sharply or roughly when they reprove oth- 



And Sayings. 37 

ers; and behave roughly to their inferiors." All 
of this is contrary to a sanctified state. 

II. A wholly sanctified heart is saved from 
envy. God says, "Wrath is cruel and anger is 
outrageous, but who can stand before envy?" 
Envy is that cruel thing that secretly feels un- 
pleasant in view of the success or promotion of 
another; that thing that is willing others should 
succeed in a measure, but not to such an extent 
as to surpass and eclipse yourself; a disposition 
to speak of the faults and failings, rather than 
the gifts and graces, of those more talented and 
appreciated than yourself; a tendency to pull off 
in spirit and become independent toward your ri- 
vals and superiors. It may be toward some loved 
one, in that you want all his affections unto your- 
self and consequently you feel ugly inside when 
he gives himself and his chief attention to his 
Lord. You prefer to have him less spiritual in 
soul-saving that you may have 'him wholly unto 
yourself. Njow a wholly sanctified soul does not 
feel these unholy sensations. No ! Such feelings 
should be found only in the bosom of demons. 
But, on the other hand, if you have what I am 
talking about, you inwardly rejoice when any one 
can do Satan's kingdom more damage and bring 
more 'glory to God than you are able to do. You 
are working to this end, you are jealous for His 
glory. When this is the case no one can get in 
your way ; no one can crowd you out ; no one can 
set you aside (unless it be temporarily) and then 
it is all for your good and final advancement. You 



38 Heart Searching Sermons 

feel that everybody ds working directly and indi- 
rectly for your good. Is it not grand to have 
such an experience? 

III. A holy heart is saved from carnal fear. 
By this I do not mean holy or filial, but legal fear ; 
a man-pleasing and man-fearing spirit ; shrinking 
from reproach; reasoning around the cross; a 
studied effort to be nice and avoid those terms 
and expressions which are likely to produce scorn 
or opposition; a readiness to excuse one's self 
from doing his whole duty to those of wealth or 
position ; an over anxiety lest everything will not 
come out all right; a fearfulness that something 
will take place that will disgust and drive some 
prominent person away; a tendency to compro- 
mise and hold back part of the truth. This is the 
same thing that allows preachers to be bought and 
sold, and was the same thing that led to Peter's 
blasphemy. Brother, are you sure you are clear 
in this matter? 

IV. The wholly sanctified are saved from love 
of human praise; a secret fondness to be noticed, 
and a hurt feeling When unnoticed; love of su- 
premacy; love of prominence rather than obscu- 
rity; love of many friends and much conversa- 
tion; drawing attention to self and personal ac- 
complishments in conversation. This is the same 
wily thing that makes a preacher stand around 
and receive compliments when he has had a "free 
time," but makes him slip out and feel mortified 
if he "gets in the brush." No wonder Jesus said, 
"How can ye 'believe which receive honor one 



And Sayings. 39 

of another and seek not the honor that cometh 
from God only." Mark you, He did not say, who 
seek honor one of another, but 'how can ye believe 
and prevail for great things if ye dare to "receive 
honor." The carnal heart accepts it and takes 
part, if not all of the credit to himself, while the 
wholly sanctified quickly and gladly passes it on to 
his loving Lord. 

V. Another evidence of being tvholly sancti- 
fied is an absence of anger and self-will. No 
more stirrings of impatience, though but for a 
moment ; no more flashes of fire in the eye, harsh- 
ness or unkindness in the tone of voice ; no more 
driving and intimidating by a commanding, over- 
bearing disposition ; no more becoming sullen and 
sensitive if you cannot have your own way; no 
more being highly wrought up with feverish haste 
and untempered zeal and then calling it nervous- 
ness or holy indignation ! Instead of turmoil and 
agitation within, the sanctified soul is, as Andrew 
Murray describes it, in a "deep sea of calmness 
when all around and above is trouble." Well, 
amen! Have you >got it? 

VI, And still another mark of inward holiness 
is an absence of all deceit. Nothing is evaded or 
covered; there is no pretence or borrowed hu- 
mility ; there is no effort to leave a better impres- 
sion than is strictly true ; a pretending what you 
are not; there is no disguising or equivocating; 
there is no disposition to dodge or hurry over a 
matter that looks questionable ; nothing is strained 
or exaggerated ; no make-believe in fasting, pray- 



40 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing or giving. Such a soul is so free from guile 
and dishonesty that even his enemies are com- 
pelled to admire his frankness and sincerity. He 
can afford to keep quiet when misunderstood, for 
his ''strength is to sit still." How does this com- 
pare with you? 

VII. One more mark of this wondrous grace is 
the sense of purity. Sanctifying grace will not 
only preserve the "spirit," but also the "soul and 
body," as Paul declares. Such a one will not 
cease to have human affections, but the carnal 
leanings and longings will be gone. No more un- 
due drawings and familiarity toward those of 
the opposite sex ; no more indulging of the imag- 
inations upon unholy things; no more allowing 
the thoughts to dwell and revel upon things you 
would ibe asihamed to publish to the world; no 
more wandering eyes "full of adultery, and that 
cannot cease from sin." Oh, the need of a heart 
experience along this line, when nearly everything 
around us is suggestive and calculated to appeal 
to the sensual. Brother, are you sure you are 
fortified, and, like Joseph, able to resist the first 
and least beginnings of temptation? Or do you 
allow your mind and spirit to fondle and feast up- 
on impure delights? Do you have to hold on to 
yourself lest you be overcome and ruined ? Look 
out, or rather, look in ! You are within a step of 
shipwreck ! The only guarantee is a genuine ex- 
perience. 

VIII. Lastly, a wholly sanctified soul is saved 
from the various forms of dark unbelief; that 



And Sayings, 41 

thing that becomes discouraged and daunted in 
the face of seeming impossibilities ; a sudden feel- 
ing of despair in view of pressure or opposition ; 
lack of quietness and confidence in God ; a dispo- 
sition to fret and worry in the midst of pain and 
poverty; a feeling of rebellion at misfortune or 
the dispositions of Divine Providence ; a tendency 
to get in a hurry rather than wait and let God 
defend the right. 

This subtle thing that reasons away the clear 
leadings of the Spirit, has gotten more than one 
soul out of Divine order and kept him from ac- 
complishing all that God saw was possible had 
he believed Him more fully. If this refined off- 
spring of bell cannot get one to back down en- 
tirely from following his convictions, then it will 
suggest a compromise, and dictate a "wise policy." 
"Do not go too far," "Use great wisdom," etc. 
These are some of the negative evidences of a 
wholly sanctified state. True, we have dwelt up- 
on tihese manifestations more than upon the pos- 
itive side, but as a rule, this is the same method 
the Holy Ghost adopts in taking a soul through. 
When one fully sees and feels the need of deliv- 
erance from the carnal mind, it will be natural, 
first to confess and deplore it 'before God, then 
believe for the cleansing of the soul. Grace, as 
well as nature, abhors a vacuum, and when these 
vile principles and proclivities go out, perfect love 
in all its beauty and power will come in. 
Remarks. 
It might be fitting in this connection to say 



42 Heart Searching Sermons 

a word as to how to seek this blessed experience. 
Of course we will not have time to do so at length, 
and it is hardly necessary, for when once a soul 
has been brought under deep conviction for de- 
liverance from the carnal mind, the Holy Ghost 
will teach him more in a minute than we could in 
a month. But it is the work of the ministry to 
pray and preach believers under conviction. This 
is where most preachers fail. They generalize, 
rather than specify the workings of carnality. 
Such preaching may produce what Mr. Wesley 
called "transient joy and comfort," but "such joy 
is not sanctified; it does not tend nor terminate 
in the crucifixion of the heart. Such faith does 
not center in God, 'but rather in self." Let me 
quote further from Mr. Wesley. Speaking of one 
who -has been brought under Bible conviction for 
holiness, he says, "Now for the first time do ye 
see the ground work of your heart, the deptlis of 
pride, self-will and hell. And no marvel that you 
could not see it ere this : else if you had, the spirit 
w^ould have failed before Him who made it." Ac- 
cording to this, Mr. Wesley 'believed that deprav- 
ity is such an awful thing, that God dare not re- 
veal it to a young convert until he is able to bear 
it. When a soul gets such a sight of himself as 
this, he will not be content with a hand-shake or 
temporary relief. He will then be ready to follow 
out the directions of Mr. Fletcher, in his Chris- 
tian Perfection, when he says : 

"The deeper our sorrow for and detestation 
of indwelling sin are, the more penitently do we 



And Sayings. 43 

confess the plague of our 'heart, and when we 
properly confess it we inherit the blessing prom- 
ised in these words : 'If we confess our sins, He is 
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
cleanse us from ail unrighteousness.' 

"To promote this deep repentance, consider 
how many spiritual evils still haunt your breast. 
Look into the inward 'chamiber of imagery/ where 
assuming self-love, surrounded by a multitude of 
vain thoughts, foolish desires, and wild imagina- 
tions, keep her court. Grieve that your heart, 
which should ibe all flesh, is yet partly stone ; that 
your soul which Should be only a temple for the 
Holy Ghost, is yet so frequently turned into a 
den of thieves, a hole for the cockatrice, a nest for 
a ibrood of spiritual vipers, for the remains of 
^nvy, jealousy, fretfulness, anger, pride, impa- 
tience, peevishness, formality, sloth, prejudice, 
bigotry, carnal confidence, evil shame, self-right- 
eousness, tormenting fears, uncharitable suspi- 
cions, idolatrous love, and I know not how many 
of the evils which form the retinue of hypocrisy 
and unbelief. Through grace detect these evils 
by a close attention to what passes in your own 
heart at all times, but especially in an hour of 
temptation. By frequent and deep confessions 
drag out all these abominations. These sins 
which would not have Christ alone to reign over 
you, bring before Him; place them in the light 
of His countenance and if you do it in faith that 
light and the warmth of His love will kill them, 
as the light of the sun kill the worms Which the 



44 Heart Searching Sermons 

plow turns up to the open air on a dry summer 
day. 

* 'Lament, as you are able, the darkness of 
your mind, the stiffness of your will, the dullness 
or exorbitancy of your affections, and importu- 
natefly entreat the God of all grace to 'renew a 
right spirit within' you. If you isorrow after this 
godly sort, what carefulness will be wrought in 
you ! what indignation ! what fear ! what vehe- 
ment desire! what zeal! yea, what revenge! Ye 
will then sing in faith what the imperfectionists 
sing in unbelief: 

" 'O how I hate these lusts of mine; 

That crucified my God; 
Those sins that pierced and nailed His flesh 

Fast to the fatal wood! 

" 'Yes, my Redeemer; they shall die, 

My heart hath so decreed; 
Nor will I spare these guilty things 

That made my Savior bleed. 

" 'While with a melting, broken heart; 

My murdered Lord I view; 
I'll raise revenge against my sins, 

And slay the murderers too.' " 

The above is the teaching of the sainted 
Fletcher on death to carnality. Adam Clarke 
says: "Few are pardoned because they do not feel 
and confess their sins, and few are cleansed from 
alll sin, or sanctified, because they do not feel 
and confess their own sore and the plague of their 
own hearts. However, seeing and confessing 
carnality is not enough ; we must have faith. But 
what is that faith whereby we are sanctified? It 



And Sayings. 45 

is a divine evidence and conviction that what God 
has promised He is able to perform. To this confi- 
dence there needs to be added one thing more — a 
divine conviction tihat He doeth it. Then the soul 
is pure from every spot of sin. It is clean from 
all unrighteousness." 



SERMON IV. 
Marks of a Growing Soul. 

Text: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and 
of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, 
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." 
Bph. 4:13. 

There is (a striking similarity between phys- 
ical! and spiritual development. There are at 
least three stages in each. 

I. Babyhood. 
II. Childhood. 
III. Manhood. 

Under each of these divisions, we will notice 
three sub-divisions. 

I. Babyhood. 

1. Innocence. This is one of the chief char- 
acteristics of a baby. He is innocent. We ad- 
mire him and say, "You sweet, little, innocent 
thing!" His innocence and helplessness become 
his strength and appeal to us for protection. He 
is not self-conscious and does not try to show off. 

In like manner, a young convert is simple 
hearted and free from affectation. He does not 
feel above doing little things. He breaks down 
and weeps in the midst of his prayer or testimony. 
He is teachable and any one can talk to him and 
give him advice. When he loses this (though he 
need not) he loses the very heart of Christianity. 
He may go on and make as good or a better ap- 

46 



And Sayings. 47 

pearance in public than before, but nevertheless, 
when ihe loses the innocence and 'simplicity of Shis 
first love, he loses everything and becomes a back- 
slider, inwardly if not outwardly. 

2. Ignorance. This is another characteristic 
of a baby. He thinks everything he can get his 
hands upon is intended for the mouth. Hence, can- 
dy, carpet tacks or carbolic acid are all alike to 
him. A young kitten may catch and eat enough 
bugs and spiders to undo all the effects of his sweet 
milk. This same thing can 'be said of a new con- 
vert. He gu'lps down poisonous doctrine along 
with that which is wiholesome. He is ready to 
read Russellism, Adventism or any other Devil- 
ism and because some things read and sound well, 
he thinks the whole thing is good and consequent- 
ly takes into his spiritual system enough poison 
to counteract all the good he receives. This may 
account for the fact that some converts stop grow- 
ing rapidly. They do not go into open sin, but 
take in so much poison through newspapers and 
other light reading matter that it counteracts the 
little genuine soul-food which they get. 

3. Irritability. Here is still another char- 
acteristic of a baby. He is easily spoiled. You 
can fondle and notice him too much. When you 
'begin it then you are into it and must keep it up 
or he will become fretted and irritated. The 
analogy holds good with a young convert or young 
preacher. More than one has been ruined be- 
cause he was praised and pushed forward too fast. 
There is such a thing as weaning a baby too soon, 



48 'Heart Searching Sermons 

then there is such a thing as nursing him too long. 
David said, "Surely I 'have ibefhavfcd and quieted 
myself, as a dhild that is weaned of his mother : 
my soul is even as a weaned child." Psa. 131 : 2. 
If a child is properly weaned, he turns away with 
a blushing face from the milk-bottle for which he 
formerly cried. In like manner, you will come 
unexpectedly to the weaning day, the time when 
you must, ilike young eaglets, separate from the 
nice little nest you have been in. This should be 
anticipated as a day of enlargement, instead of a 
day to be deplored. In Gen. 21:8, we read, "And 
the child grew and Abraham made a great feast 
the same day that Isaac was weaned." This 
weaning time comes to every one of us. It will 
be a time when you are suddenly tested, neverthe- 
less you should rejoice at its coming, for it marks 
a wonderful era in your religious experience. You 
will oom<e to the place wthere your richest conso- 
lations and fondest hopes are suddenly torn from 
you. This is your weaning time and you shoufld 
thank God for it. The Lord wants to bring you 
to the place where you are not easily frustrated ; 
where you are not easily distracted; where you 
are not easily hurt — yea, where you recognize that 
God has a 'hand in everything that comes your 
way. Restful faith recognizes 'him in everything. 

II. This brings us to the next period in life — 
Childhood. There are also three characteristics 
of this state. 

1. Unsteadiness. Here is a iboy. He is told 
to dig a drain ditch about the house. He begins 



And Sayi?igs. 49 

well, 'but leaves it unfinished and goes at some- 
thing else. Here is a girl. She is told to sweep, 
or black the stove, but before completing the task, 
goes to cleaning windows or doing something else. 
Both mean well, but are unsteady and unreliable. 
Some grown up people are like this. They are 
impressional and spasmodic. There is no system 
in their lives. They work and slave, but nothing 
permanent is accomplished. They are not reg- 
ular in their habits. Their giving, their self-de- 
nial, their performance of duty are all done or 
neglected, just as they "feel like it." Such souls 
are often tempted when they are not honored, or 
put forward, but they ought not to think strange, 
for they are too fickle and unsteady to bear much 
responsibility. Brother, if this is your condition, 
you are still a child in the kingdom of grace. Brace 
up, you may yet be a man. 

2. Another characteristic is Curiosity. It 
is natural for children to be curious. If they are 
forbidden to look into a drawer or a certain pack- 
age, this intensifies- the anxiety to do so. They 
think nothing of peeping throu'gh a crack, or key- 
hole, and often intrude into company to hear pri- 
vate conversation. 

Sad to say, many forty-year old children do 
the same things. The spirit of curiosity is hurt- 
ful to growth in grace. This is one reason why 
some people lack poise and saintly dignity. They 
read postal cards and other mail which does not 
belong to them ; they edge up to hear conversation 
which does not concern them; they readily drink 



50 Heart Searching Sermons 

down the latest news pertaining to a marriage 
or divorce ; they show unrest and impatience when 
they fail to receive some long-looked-f or mail ; on 
the other hand, they give full vent to their fleshly 
joys when their expectations are realized. Such 
souls 'have never been refined ; they know nothing 
of the crucifixion of self; their joys do not cen- 
ter in the cross, but rather in the transitory, per- 
ishing things of time and sense. 

3. Many Words. Children are full of 
words. It is a great punishment for them to be 
forbidden to speak. They have never learned the 
value of silence. The same may be said of im- 
mature Christians. This may not necessarily 
mean young converts. They may ihave been a 
long time in the way, but they are still mere child- 
ren in spiritual development. It is evidenced by 
their loquacity. They cannot bear solitude. They 
are not often found in deep silence and medita- 
tion. They know little or nothing of long sea- 
sons of communion with Jesus. They are fleshly 
and love to be in public, rather than J hid away 
in God. 

Such small souls tire one rehearsing their 
troubles. They spin out a multitude of words re- 
lating something that could be said in a few sen- 
tences. They seem to think their little concerns 
are of so much importance that everybody will be 
glad to stop and listen. Madame Guyon said she 
could bear with young converts who consumed 
valuable time in relating their troubles, but it was 
a trial to listen to every little perplexity from 



And Sayifigs. 51 

those who were older in the way, and who ought 
to have learned these things for themselves. 

God's Word declares that "In the multitude of 
words, there wanteth not siin." And again, "Let 
your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for 
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." 
Matt. 5 :37. With these quotations as a standard, 
I venture to assert that those who talk a great 
deal are guilty of at least three things : 

(1). Evil Speaking. They discuss the faults 
and sins of absent ones. This is what Wesley 
called the* universal sin of the world. "Speak 
evil of no man." (2). They are likely to be guilty 
of "foolish talking" — saying things that provoke 
laughter and do not tend to edification. (3) . Last- 
ly, they become "vain talkers" — drawing atten- 
tion to self and speaking great swelling words of 
their accomplishments; where they have been, 
and what they have seen. All this grieves the 
Spirit and brings leanness to the soul. And they 
who do such things declare plainly that they are 
still "children, tossed to and fro" by every wind 
of conversation that comes along. Oh, that you 
might outgrow these childish things and become 
f ulil-grown men and women in Christ. 

III. Manhood. By this time we hope you 
are resolved to "put away childish things." Very 
w r ell, ihere are three marks of spiritual develop- 
ment : 

1. Earthly things esteemed lightly. 

2. Deadness to the praise or censure of men. 

3. Ability to see God in everything. 



52 Heart Searching Sermons 

1. It was said of Moses, "When he was come 
to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's 
daughter ; choosing rather to suffer affliction with 
the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of 
sin for a season; 

"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater rich- 
es than the treasures in Egypt." 

In other words, when Moses grew to manhood, 
he :put away childish things and 'began to reason 
thus : "This is a world of uncertainty, sorrow and 
death. - I notice when trouble comes to the royal 
household, they ;have no source of comfort or con- 
solation. Nlot so with the people of God. They 
meet together, weep, sing and pray, then go on 
their way rejoicing. I believe I will cast my lot 
with this people." A wise decision. Where is 
there a young man nowadays who will voluntarily 
disinherit -himself and refuse to ibe called the son 
of a rich or royal person? Most of us will strut 
and swell if we can on ( ly refer to a dead relative 
who had 'a little money or influence. 

Not until one begins to see the emptiness of 
earthly things and spurns that for which most 
people strive, will he learn the secret of spiritual 
development. Sometimes holiness (?) people will 
move away from good church privileges in order 
to make a few cents more a day or week. The 
result is, they backslide and have to pay out more 
than the extra amount earned, to recover lost 
health, or get a wayward child out of trouble. It 
did not pay! Sometimes preachers become so 
engrossed in truck growing, milk selling, or run- 



And Sayings. 53 

ning a boarding" bouse, that they are late to ser- 
vices, neglect family prayers and seldom, if ever, 
attend and stay through an entire camp, or dis- 
trict quarterly meeting — all for a few cents' gain. 
Such men 'have not yet 'learned what Moses did 
when he became of age — to esteem earthly things 
lightly. 

When the world makes a proposition, money 
lovers ask, "Is there any money in it?" but the 
all important question should he, "Is there any 
grace in it? Can I engage in it without any risk 
to my soul or those of my family ? If not, count 
me out, irrespective of money, pleasant surround- 
ings or a large circle of friends." He who set- 
tles everything like this will never backslide in 
'heart or life. More than this, God will not let 
him suffer for food or raiment. 

2. Another characteristic of a growing soul, 
is a growing deadness to the praise or censure of 
others. Paul said, "It is a very small thing that 
I should be judged of you or of man's judgment: 
yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know noth- 
ing -by myself ; yet am I not (hereby justified ; but 
he that judgeth me is the Lord." 

Paul 'had grown in grace to such an extent 
that he sought only to commend himself to God. 
He was not influenced or affected by what others 
thought of him. He did not get in bondage to 
anybody. It was not a carnal independence, but 
a saintly dignity. How unlike the generality of 
men! 

It is alarming 'how easily some people feel 



54 Heart Searching Sermons 

flighted or puffed up. If they are criticised or 
depreciated, they are restless and uneasy. On the 
other hand, if they are noticed and appreciated 
they feel lifted up and manifest an air of impor- 
tance. They feel "hurt" if not asked to take a 
prominent part in whatever is going on, and then 
when given a little recognition go too far and 
spoil it all. It is a nice thing to be equally dead 
to praise or censure. Not until one has died out 
to the bottom and gotten fully acquainted with the 
fickleness of human nature will 'he be able to tes- 
tify with Paul, "It is a very small thing that I 
should be judged of you or man's judgment." 

I am heartily sorry for preachers and dele- 
gates who are in such bondage to others that they 
dare not move or vote their convictions at an 
annual or general conference until they first know- 
how some leading spirit feels on the subject. He 
who is thus "tossed to and fro" proves that he is 
yet a child and lacks the "measure of the stature 
of the fulness of Christ." 

3. Lastly, and still another characteristic of 
a growing soul is, his ability to see God in every- 
thing. This may seem to be a contradiction, but 
it is not to those whose eyes have been enlight- 
ened. We read, "Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they shall see God." Where? Not merely in 
heaven but in providences and unpleasant circum- 
stances where others see nothing but defeat and 
despair. 

Take Joseph for instance: Hear him! "Then 
Joseph could not refrain himself before all them 



And Sayings. 55 

that stood by him ; and he cried, Cause every man 
to go out from me. And there stood no man with 
him, while Joseph made himself known unto his 
brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egypt- 
ians and the house of Pharaoh 'heard. 

"And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Jo- 
seph ; doth my father yet live? And his brethren 
could not answer him; for they were troubled at 
his presence. 

"And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near 
to me, I pray you. And they came near. And 
he said, I am Joseph your 'brother, whom ye sold 
into Egypt. 

"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry 
tvith yourselves : for God did send me before you 
to preserve life. 

"For these two years hath the famine been in 
the land: and yet there are five years in which 
there shall neither (be earing nor harvest. 

"And God sent me before you to preserve you 
a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by 
a great deliverance. 

"So now it was not you that sent me hither but 
God." 

This was magnanimity. But it required an- 
guish of soul, slander and dungeon life to develop 
and bring it out. He did not even refer to him- 
self, but said, "God sent me before you to pre- 
serve you a posterity in the earth and to save your 
lives by a great deliverance." 

How unlike human nature! It would have 
been so easy to have humbled his brethren by say- 



56 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing, "Well, 'boys, do you think there is any likeli- 
hood of a dream coming true? You may remem- 
ber that years ago a little fellow had a dream that 
he and his brothers were in the harvest field and 
his sheaf arose and stood upright, while those of 
his brethren stood round about and made obei- 
sance to 'his sheaf. Now do you think such a 
dream has had any significance?" No! Joseph 
could not do this. He was too magnanimous and 
manly to take revenge, by saying anything that 
was unkind or insinuating. 

I wonder how we compare with this lovely 
character who was a type of Christ? He who 
has the ability and disposition to see God in every- 
thing is well nigh Omnipotent. "All things are 
possible to him that believeth," To illustrate : a 
s'pider crawls upon a beautiful flower and finds 
nothing but poison, because that is what his na- 
ture is seeking. But a honey bee lights upon 
the same flower and finds honey, one reason being 
that he has a longer bill and can get down to 
where the honey is deposited. Honey is not on 
the surface of things, but we get honey "out of 
the rock and oil out of the flinty rock." Some 
people are always finding the bitter, while others 
are getting honey out of the same circumstances 
in life. 

The ability to turn apparent curses into bless- 
ings could ibe illustrated in the following way: 
Down the -sides of Mt. Vesuvius flow rivers of 
burning lava, carrying death and destruction in 
their wake. In course of time the lava cools and 



And Sayings. 57 

pulverizes, and here is where those fine grapes are 
raised. We purchased all we could eat for a 
penny. 

In like manner hell vomits cut all kinds of 
hate and slander, calculated to engulf and con- 
sume us, but if we only hold still (and this is the 
hardest part of it) God will breathe His breath 
upon the unpleasant thing and enable us to grow 
the beautiful graces of the Spirit in the midst of 
that which was intended for our ruin. Halle- 
lujah ! 

My wife relates an incident which occurred 
at Henderson, Ky., while she was there in a meet- 
ing. A young man who was not very bright at- 
tended the services and was converted. He was 
telling his experience one night, how that the pre- 
vious day he had gone after milk across the Ohio 
river, which was frozen over. On his return he 
slipped and spilled it all. This was a great test 
and he was tempted to swear, but instead knelc 
on the ice and went to praying. When he arose 
to get his pail behold the milk had frozen and he 
picked it up, put it into his pail and went on his 
way rejoicing. We have heard it said, "It does 
not pay to cry over spilled milk," but it did pay 
this boy to pray and give God a chance to freeze it. 
We once heard a story of two frogs which will 
illustrate this same thought of making the best 
of everything. They both accidentally jumped 
into a crock of milk which was left uncovered in 
the springhouse. After struggling in vain for a 
long time one of them gave up and drowned. The 



53 Heart Searching Sermons 

other refused to do so and kept on kicking until 
he had churned the cream into a nice little lump 
of butter which was able to hold him and thus his 
life was spared. Never give up! Many a man 
'has done so right on the eve of victory. 

During the civil war a little drummer boy was 
captured and was so small that his captors doubted 
his ability for service. But he quietly affirmed 
that he was capable, whereupon he was asked to 
beat a "march" which he did to the surprise and 
delight of all. Next he was asked to beat a 
"charge." He did this also with great precision. 
Lastly he was asked to beat a "retreat." 

"Beat a what?" he asked. 

"Beat a retreat. Don't you know what that 
is?" 

"I never learned how to 'beat that !" 

Brother, have you ever learned how to beat it ? 
God forbid ! We must not retreat, or lower the • 
standard, but march on, charge on and take new 
ground for God and souls. Much land ahead to 
be possessed and it is ours if we say so. "We are 
well able to go up and possess it." 

There is such a thing as making everything 
that comes a stepping stone to higher visions of 
God. Even your stumbling stones may become 
stepping stones. 

A farmer had an old mule who had grown so 
old that he could no longer work, and it was de- 
cided that the best thing that they could do would 
be to end his life in a decent manner. The boys 
were instructed to use an old, dry well which had 



And Sayings. 59 

caved in, as a grave, as it would save the trouble 
of digging one, and the best mode of killing the 
mule was thought to be to lead him in, head first 
in such a manner as to quickly break his neck. 

When he fell in he groaned and seemed to be 
gone. So the boys commenced filling up the well 
with rocks and earth. Presently, however, there 
was a commotion, for the mule was struggling for 
life. Managing to get first upon his knees, then 
on his feet he stood there tramping as the boys 
shoveled dirt in upon him with all their might. He 
would not ibe buried, notwithstanding their evil 
intentions, so kept tramping until finally he 
walked out at the top. 

The farmer gave the old mule a new lease of 
life for his determination. Thus when things are 
poured in upon you, if you only keep tramping 
they will raise you to the higher visions of God. 
Let one foot say Amen and the other Hallelujah, 
and thus you will be able to be lifted above the 
very things that formerly crushed you. 

"Have you made a sad mistake, 

That to injure you bids fair? 
Bury not your courage strong 

In the casket of despair; 
Make your stumbling blocks of error 
Stepping stones to something higher." 

God wants you to be so fully blended with Di- 
vinity that you can turn everything that comes 
to your account. Bless His name! 

Get the vision as Joseph did, and then work 
on, suffer on and believe on until you come to the 
grand realization of your hopes. 



SERMON V. 
Marks of Spiritual-Mindedness. 

Text: "To be spiritually minded is life and peace." 
Rom. 8:6. 

When God finds us He finds us earthly, sensual 
and devilish. His ultimate aim is to make us like 
unto Himself. The transformation is a tremen- 
dous undertaking, but our God is abundantly able 
if we will but submit to His process. Christ will 
never be satisfied with us and we ought never to 
rest satisfied with ourselves until He can present 
us unto the Father in as good condition morally 
as that in which we originally came from His lov- 
ing hand. Were it to be less than this, the Atone- 
ment (at-one^ment) would be a failure. "As we 
have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also 
bear the image of the heavenly." When? When 
we get to heaven? Yes, but also in this life, for 
we are told, "As He is so are we in this world." 

Men get different conceptions of what consti- 
tutes deep spirituality. And as they see things 
differently, their lives correspond more or less 
with their theories. Hence the need of a proper, 
Scriptural standard. There are at least three 
things that many good people mistake as sure ev- 
idences of a spiritual mind : 
I. Noise, or demonstration. 
II. Knowledge, or discernment. 
TIT. Zeal, or outward religion* 

60 



And Sayings. 61 

I. There are numbers of good people who 
think that a preacher or meeting does not amount 
to much unless there is more or less noise and 
emotion. With this class, it seems their emotional 
nature is more highly developed than their piety 
in the home life. This is one reason why some 
people are opposed to shouting; they hear those 
shout, who afterwards find fault around home, 
leave bills unpaid, drive close bargains and do 
various other things that are inconsistent with a 
loud profession. Brother, sister, remember a big 
shout in meeting will never atone for an unsanc- 
tified ton'gue around home. Understand, we are 
not opposed to demonstrations and freedom of 
the Spirit. No ! Let us have more of it. But we 
are opposed to making this the test and standard 
of deep spirituaJlity. The fact is, experience 
proves that the justified life 'has more outbursts 
of emotion than the entirely sanctified life, bait 
the latter has a depth of uninterrupted peace and 
soul rest not to be found in the former state. 
Hence it is wrong to think that he who has lots 
of gush, blubber and "hurrah boys" is more spir- 
itual than others. 

IT. There is another class of people who, as a 
rule, are not demonstrative, but whose conception 
of spirituality is to be well indoctrinated so as to 
know exactly where to draw the line between the 
genuine and the false. This is very good, but one 
can have great knowledge and discernment and be 
very deficient in spirituality. The bulk of this 
class are backslidden preachers and old, retired 



62 Heart Searching Sermons 

professors who sit around, look wise and tell the 
younger ones how to do things. They are like 
the stove that is we)ll set up, nicely polished and 
has every requisite at hand. The only thing that 
is needed is Fire. This is all that is lacking in 
many preachers and professors. Their sermons 
are orthodox and rhetorical; their prayers and 
testimonies sound well. The only trouble is, one 
can hear them but not feel them. They lack the 
fire of the Holy Ghost. 

III. Then there is a third class of earnest 
souls, whose conception of spirituality is a great 
deal of zeal in religious activities. But there was 
never a truer saying than that of an early writer 
who said, "Many a man's spirituality is buried 
in the grave of his activities." Who are more 
zealous than the adherents of Mormonism, Sev- 
enth Day Adventism, Millennial-Dawnism and 
every other devilism ? And yet where is there one 
among them who is spiritually-minded. Some of 
you are very zealous about plainness of dress, 
Sabbath observance, etc. This is all very good, 
but remember you can be as strict as the strictest 
sect of the Pharisees and as void of the Spirit, 
Understand, we are not crying down outward re- 
ligion. No! Let us insist on it, but let us also 
insist on the "life and peace" of God in the soul. 
Without this you will become mere legalists. You 
can have all these three — noise, knowledge and 
zeal and not have the Spirit, but if you become 
spiritually-minded you will very probably have 
all of these. 



And Sayings. 63 

Now let us notice the positive side and con- 
sider some certainties respecting spiritual-mind- 
edness. We will mention three. 

I. Fixednetss of purpose to please God in all 
things. 

II. Evenness of spirit under pressure and 
misunderstanding. 
III. Magnanimity of soul. 

I. Fixedness of purpose. David said, "My 
heart is fixed." Daniel "purposed in his heart 
that he would not defile ihimsedf." We understand 
from this that God is more pleased with deep in- 
ward fixedness of purpose to please Him than 
with a (big, spasmodic shout. One reason Fin- 
ney's converts had a stability of character not to 
be found among the Methodists was that he in- 
sisted upon entering into a covenantal relation- 
ship with God. He made much of the principle of 
righteousness being planted in the soul. This is 
worth more than a great blessing unless along 
with it there is a principle that loves to do the 
right, because it is right and not merely for re- 
ward. 

Calvinism and Arminianism never have 
agreed and never will. Why? Because they are 
both right and both wrong. The one magnifies 
the ability and willingness of God to save, the 
other the freedom of the human will to choose the 
thing that ipleases God. The one represents God 
reaching down and taking hold of man and almost 
compelling him to be saved, the other represents 
man reaching up and taking hold of God, with the 



64 Heart Searching Sermons 

aridity to meet conditions, saying, "i will not let 
Thee go except Thou 'bless me." But here are their 
weak places : Calvinism in its 'last analysis, it iett 
to itself, will drift into cold conservatism. Ar- 
minianism, in its last analysis, winds up with 
wild emotionalism. What is needed is to get the 
two married and then the product will be a cove- 
nantal relationship set on tire by the Holy Ghost. 
Then we wild have law as well as Gospel preach- 
ing and the result will be converts who are of tne 
Daniel type; converts who have the principle of 
integrity all through them; converts who do noi, 
know how to compromise or backslide. When 
this is the case nothing can turn one out of the 
royal way, yea, nothing can gain his attention or 
consideration to do evil for a moment. 

If a little prosperity comes, most people get 
important and allow it to turn them aside. Or if 
it is adversity, they compdain and give up with 
discouragement. Wesley testified, "I make no ac- 
count of any profit or pleasure that does not bring 
me closer to God ; nor do I shrink from any hard- 
ship or misunderstanding, if thereby it will more 
completely wean me from the things of time and 
sense and unite me to God." Oh, how few can tell 
the truth and testify thus, but this is what it 
means to have fixedness of purpose. 

II. Evenness of spirit under pressure and 
misunderstanding. 

He who is possessed and controlled by the 
Spirit will he saved, not only from harsh, unkind 
words, but from loud, excited speech, heated words 



And Sayings. 65 

and sweeping statements. There will be a soft- 
ness and mellowness in the look of the eye and 
tone of the voice. Some people do not scold much, 
but they can look dark and frowning, especially 
when there is no company present. Some men 
have long ceased to swear at their horses, but the 
harsh tone of voice and jerk of the line indicate 
a lack of mellowness. Some women no longer 
fly into a fit of anger or pout for half a day, but 
the way they yell at the "young 1 ones" and take on 
when a nice dish is broken is evidence that they 
lack heavenly poise and womanly dignity. 

brother, sister, if you have hung on the 
north side of the tree most of your life until you 
are hard and knotty, ask your Lord to either 
transfer you to the sunny side, or if need be mel- 
low you with the frosts of criticism and winds of 
adversity, until you are not only "pure" but 
"peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full 
of mercy and good fruits." When you become 
thus heavenly-minded, you will be easily pleased 
and of course easy to get along with ; no contrari- 
ness about where you shall sit, how much air you 
s'hall have in the bedroom or church, or anything 
of the kind. 

In short, if you 'have what I am talking about, 
you never allow yourself to get tried or sore, no 
difference what others do. You refuse to let it 
disturb your deep, settled peace ; you feel that ev- 
erything that comes is better than you deserve. 
Moreover it could not come only as it was sent or 
permitted 'by the loving hand of your heavenly 



66 Heart Searching Sermons 

Father. This well saved soul is described by An- 
drew Murray as having genuine humility and 
here is his definition of this wondrous and sadly 
lacking grace: 

"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is 
to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted, or 
vexed, or irritated, or sore, or disappointed. It is 
to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is 
done to me, to feel no resentment when anything 
is done against me. It is to be at rest when no- 
body praises me, and when I am 'blamed or de- 
spised. It is to 'have a blessed home in the Lord, 
where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to 
my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep 
sea of calmness, when ail around and above is 
trouble." 

Friend, how do you compare with this ? Don't 
criticise the standard, but rather criticise your 
lack of measuring up to it. 

III. Magnanimity of Soul. 

Webster defines magnanimity as, "Greatness 
of mind ; that elevation or dignity of soul, which 
encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity 
and firmness; which raises the possessor above 
revenge, and makes him delight in acts of benevo- 
lence; which makes him disdain injustice and 
meanness, and prompts him to sacrifice personal 
ease, interest and safety, for the accomplishment 
of useful and noble objects." 

When the grace of God subdues and permeates 
the entire man, it makes him incapable of doing 
little, mean, underhanded things. This good man 



And Sayings. 67 

is one out of a multitude who does not allow him- 
sellf to be biased or prejudiced in the least, by 
what he hears. He insists on waiting and hear- 
ing the other side. Here is one man out of ten 
thousand in whom you are safe in confiding and 
unbosoming your heart. 

The man who is spiritually minded has too 
much nobility to argue and contend over small or 
great matters. I have sat at the table or fireside 
of preachers and felt so ashamed I did not know 
where to look. Husband and wife would contra- 
dict each other and use a multitude of words over 
some trivial, insignificant affair pertaining to 
such things as the pitching of a tent, the placing 
of furniture, or the correction of a child. Neither 
of them .seemed to have grace or greatness enough 
to 'know how to desist. This ibespeaks shallow- 
ness of mind, narrowness of vision and littleness 
of soul. God help us ! 

A magnanimous mind has the ability to look 
ahead and see the outcome of a debate. If he 
foresees that it will produce friction or inward 
disunion on either side, he does not allow him- 
self to be drawn into an argument. And if per- 
chance ( he does express himself and see that the 
other side is becoming agitated, 'he knows how to 
give in, rather than hold out at the expense of 
grieving the Spirit or marring the sweetness of 
Christian fellowship. There is only about one 
man in a thousand big enough to do this. Lord 
take us down ! down ! ! down ! ! ! A thousand miles 
deeper than we have ever gone ! 



68 Heart Searching Sermons 

There is a beautiful picture recorded in Mark 
11, — Christ riding into Jerusalem. What do we 
see here? We see Divinity above the animal, we 
see a triumphant march, and we hear "Hosanna 
in the highest." But reverse the order and let 
the animal be on top, then there is a 'break-down, 
the march ceases and there are no more Hallelu- 
jahs. This same scene is reproduced in your life 
and mine every day. As long- as the Divine life 
is in the ascendency there is a victorious march 
heavenward. But let your old animal nature get 
the mastery, then you not only come to a stand- 
still yourself, 'but break down and blockade the 
way for others. 

Again, man might be likened to a three story 
building — up-stairs, down-stairs, and a basement. 
Most men live in the basement of their natures 
and take special delight in fleshly indulgences. 
Then there is another class who live on a higher 
plane and find their delight in things that please 
the mind, such as music, art, paintings and good 
reading. But the ideal life is to live up-stairs — 
in the spiritual realm. Here one has victory over 
all that is groveling, sensual and devilish; here 
one can view the landscape o'er and catch new 
visions of the coming King. 0, brother, if you 
have been living in the basement, look around and 
you will find a 'stairway leading to something bet- 
ter, but let not the better become enemy to the 
'best! Keep on climbing until you stand victo- 
rious upon the delectable mountain of holy vision 
and revelation of eternal things. 



And Sayings. 69 

When a man is thus possessed by God, he be- 
comes not only more of a man but more than a 
man, His spiritual nature is paramount and 
hence is stronger than his animal and mental 
powers. Such a man with such an heavenly mind 
will have little taste for Shakespeare or any of the 
popular reading of the day. The "high class" ( ?) 
music and modern attractions will be as distaste- 
ful as so much soapsuds. The coarse, sensual de- 
lights, that so many men enjoy, will be spurned 
and trampled under foot. In short, here is a Chris- 
tian (a, Christ-man), walking the earth, more 
completely transformed and controlled by the 
heavenly life than was he formerly under the 
control of that which was "earthy, sensual and 
devilish." Thanks be unto Christ who hath at 
last completed the work He came to do. "He shall 
see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied." 

Jesus, plant and root in me 
All the mind that was in Thee, 
Settled peace I then shall find, 
Jesus' is a quiet mind. 

Anger I no more shall feel, 
Always even, always still, 
Meekly on my God reclined; 
Jesus' is a gentle mind. 

When 'tis deeply rooted here, 
Perfect love shall cast out fear; 
Fear doth servile spirits hind, 
Jesus' is a noble mind. 

I shall triumph evermore, 
Gratefully my God adore, 
God so good, so true, so kind; 
Jesus' is a thankful mind. 



70 r Heart Searching Sermons 

Lowly, loving, meek and pure, 
I shall to the end endure, 
Be no more to sin inclined; 
Jesus' is a constant mind. 

I shall fully be restored 
To the image of my Lord, 
Witnessing to all mankind, 
Jesus' is a perfect mind. 

— Charles Wes^y 



SERMON VI. 
Marks of a Backslidden State. 

Text: "The backslider in heart shall be filled with 
his own ways." Prov. 14:14. 

In -considering this subject we desire to no- 
tice three marks of a backslidden state and will 
begin each with a "C." 
I. Cessation of growth. 
II. Checks of the Spirit disregarded. 
III. Censoriousness. 

I. Cessation of growth. When vegetation 
ceases to grow, the next stage is decay. When 
water ceases to flow the next thing is stagnation. 
When we cease to go up stream we start the other 
way. Backsliding begins in the heart. Long be- 
fore a person acknowledges he is backslidden, he 
has broken step with God inwardly. It may be 
imperceptible to his nearest friends, but God sees 
that he has come to a standstill and has become 
Satisfied with present attainments. A growing 
soul is like a growing boy — continually outstrip- 
ping his old clothes. He is getting new sermons, 
praying new prayers and seeing new visions of 
Christ. It is a pity for children or others to 
learn the prayers or testimonies of those with 
whom they dwell. Such prayers have evidently 
gone to seed and are indicative of a stagnant 
condition. A preacher may use the same text, 

71 



72 Heart Searching Sermons 

but if he is living in the Supernatural he will 
bring forth new things and say something he nev- 
er said, read, or heard before. When he or any- 
one else falls into ruts and a sameness of ex- 
pression, it is a sign of cessation of growth. 
Spiritual development ceased and perhaps years 
passed before he became aware of it. Too bad ! 
There is a sad passage recorded in Matt. 5:13. 
Ohrist had been saying, "Blessed," "blessed," 
"blessed," and when He reached the thirteenth 
verse, He pronounced His hearers "salt," saying, 
"Ye are the salt of the earth: 'but if the salt have 
lost its savor, it is thenceforth good for nothing." 
Mark you! He does not say if the salt have 
ceased to be salt, have turned green, or become 
rank poison! He did not say this. It may still 
look the same, weigh the same and pass the same 
as before, but it has lost its penetrating, preserv- 
ing and purifying power. In like manner, there 
are many who are outwardly religious and zealous 
whose conduct and influence are not hurtful and 
who pass for exemplary people, yet the fact is 
they have lost that peculiar life and aggressive- 
ness of soul, that eternal something that gets oth- 
ers under awful conviction, and begets hunger for 
that which they do not possess. These may not 
be able to point to the spot where it took place; 
it would be a great blessing if they could, for they 
would then know where to begin repenting. But 
they have backslidden in 'heart so gradually and 
respectably that like Samson they have not been 
aware of it. "And he awoke out of his sleep and 



And Sayings, 73 

said, I will go out as at other times before and 
shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord ivas 
departed from him." How sad that one can lose 
out little by little and not fully realize it until some 
crucial test comes along and down he goes. 

The backslider may declare he is right and 
shout more loudly, pray longer and preach with 
greater emphasis than ever. He does so to quiet 
his own fears, keep others from becoming suspi- 
cious, or to ward off conviction by the Holy Ghost. 
Sometimes he will talk vigorously against the 
very thing that is sapping away his spirituality. 
He may do this with the hope of recovering him- 
self. He is so busily engaged that he does not 
have time to investigate or take an invoice of his 
stock of grace. If he has misgivings that all is 
not well, he calls them temptations or something 
else, and hurries off without sitting in judgment 
on everything that is questionable. He hopes all 
will be satisfactory when certain conditions 
change for the better. He is almost afraid to listen 
to the inward warnings or suspicions of his soul, 
lest there should be a semblance of truth back of 
them. Oh, that he would stop long enough to look 
all these things out of countenance and insist that 
every voice be hushed except the one that assures 
him God is well pleased with everything. 

Friend, do not easily and quickly pass over 
"insignificant things" that do not seem to amount 
to anything; things that no one sees or knows 
anything about, yet are large enough to cause 
your downfall in the end. Doubtless the devil 



74 Heart Searching Sermons 

finds as much delight in seeing a well saved soul 
take the first step — the first slight departure from 
God, as in after years seeing the same soul wind 
up in disgrace. 

We remember a case years ago that will illus- 
trate this: A backslidden man, formerly a class 
leader, was at the altar at a camp meeting. Ev- 
erything was dark and he could get no special 
help. After several occasions of seeking I ven- 
tured to ask 'him privately how he came to get 
away from God, and he answered by saying, "I 
got drunk." I told him he was mistaken, that 
this was simply an outward evidence that he had 
backslidden in heart, perhaps months before. 
"Tell me now," said I, "what was the first little 
thing you did that grieved God, and from which 
you were not able to recover yourself. Then in 
an undertone he said, "I hired a horse and buggy," 
and here he 'hesitated. 

Now, a whole history could be written around 
that "horse and buggy." The beginning of it 
dated back a year or more before the buggy ride 
was taken. The man was a class leader and in 
going some distance to church, had to pass by a 
home where lived a good sister, a member of his 
class. When the nights were dark he took a lan- 
tern to avoid the mud and see how to cross the 
ditch at the meadow fence. Sometimes there 
would be quite a company, then again in bad 
weather only the "faithful two." His wife was 
a good, true woman, 'but not very spiritual, nor 
gifted in song. This led him to say to himself, "I 



And Sayings. 75 

wish my wife could sing and pray like this good 
sister who never misses a service; she has such 
good judgment in selecting the right song, and I 
would surely foe a happy man if my wife was as 
great a help as Sister — ." Once in a great while 
* 'Sister Faithful" did not go to service, and then 
our brother would be at a 'loss and say to himself, 
"I am afraid we will not have much of a meeting 
tonight; I wonder if she is sick." This thing 
went on until at length they could tell each other's 
thoughts and feelings, which was a great help(?) 
in selecting songs and instructing seekers. They 
also felt free to speak to each other of the faults 
of their absent companions. It seemed providen- 
tial that they should take the same 'bus or train 
to and from camp meetings and general gather- 
ings. 

Finally the way was sufficiently prepared for 
the wily old Serpent to suggest a buggy trip to 
a famous cave in the mountains. The man lay 
awake at nights wondering if he should, and as 
he glanced over at his true and hard working 
wife, the Spirit kept saying, "Don't do it! Don't 
do it !" After many a night's struggle, with heart 
beating hard enough to jar the 'bed, he got the 
consent of his mind, and now the devil took pos- 
session of him. He still continued leading and 
exhorting the class to 'be true, and do their duty, 
but he was backslidden in heart while doing so. 

Now he was ready, like David, to make plans 
-how to carry out the hellish design. "How shall I 
keep my wife and others from knowing it? I 



76 Heart Searching Sermons 

will pretend that I am subpoenaed as a witness on 
a trial in the adjoining town. And where shall I 
meet the other party ? Out at that old, abandoned 
mill." Thus the inner decision and plans were 
made that finally led to the downfall and disgrace 
of two valuable souls. 

Here is where backsliding 'begins, in the mind, 
in the secret imaginations of the heart. 0, my 
brother, crush, as you would a deadly vi- 
per, the first suggestive thought, the first 
tendency to look or lean in the wrong direc- 
tion. Hierein is your only hope. Others have 
fallen from higher pinnacles than you have 
reached, because they began to trifle. 

Take the church at Ephesus as an example of 
heart backsliding. Where will one find a more 
exemplary church outwardly? It cannot be 
found. Read the record. Rev. 2:1-5, "I know 
thy works and thy labor, thy patience and how 
thou canst not bear them which are evil." None 
were guilty of immoral conduct; they not only 
refrained from outward evil of every kind, but 
could not "bear" those who were guilty. Read 
on: "And thou hast tried them which say they 
are apostles and are not and hast found them 
liars." They had such discernment and keenness 
of perception as to discover and expose a false 
prophet, though to most churches there was noth- 
ing perceptibly wrong in his teaching or conduct. 
He professed to stand for all their "issues," he 
wept and preached with much apparent unction 
and earnestness; yet they could not feel right 



And Sayings. 77 

about him. "There moist be something wrong 
back of his life: he has dodged some rent, doc- 
tor's or grocery bills ; he collected money for some 
charitable purpose but did not place it all as was 
intended; he loves to look at beautiful women; 
he either has two living wives, or is unkind to 
the one :he now calls his wife." These fears 
brought about a trial and resulted in proving him 
a "War." 

Oh, that our churches nowadays had such 
power to locate and run down scoundrels before 
they could do their dirty work. But read on: 
"And thou hast borne, and >hast patience, and for 
my name's sake [not some little, sectarian organ- 
ization] hast labored and hast not fainted." Here 
was an active, self-sacrificing, well organized 
church, which wou'ld hardly have an equal today 
as far as zeal and discernment are concerned. But 
listen: "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against 
thee." 

"Surely not us at Ephesus !" 

"Yes, against thee, not for thy outward conduct, 
but because thou hast backslidden in heart and 
left thy first Jove." Friend, is it 'barely possible 
for you to be in the same condition? 

II. Another mark of a backslidden state is 
the disregarding the checks of the Spirit. The 
Holy Spirit is true to every soul. He inspires us 
to move out. He checks us to hold back. He is 
very easily pleased or ^grieved. It does not re- 
quire a long time for a lover to find out what 
pleases or grieves the one he loves. In like man- 



78 Heart Searching Sermons 

ner when one falls in love with his Lord, he will 
soon know what pleases Him and "do those 
things." He will also studiously avoid what 
grieves Him. It is 'hard to say how often one 
may grieve Him on the same point and not incur 
guilt and condemnation, but a loving soul will 
not want to try the experiment. Doubtless many 
souls backslide in heart, but they are reinstated 
so quickly they do not count that there has been 
a real ibreak in experience, nevertheless such is 
the case. There are comparatively few who have 
never had a break for a moment, but such an ex- 
perience is gloriously possible. 

How do souils disregard these checks of the 
Spirit? In various ways. 

1. In conversation. In talking too much. 
We are told that "In a multitude of words there 
wanteth not sin." Again, "Let your communica- 
tion be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is 
more than these cometh of evil." And again, 
"Every idle ivord that men shall speak, they shall 
give an account thereof in the day of judgment." 
I venture the assertion that every time you show 
me a good conversationalist — one who talks a 
great deal, I will invariably show you a person 
who falls into one of three harmful, yea sinful 
practices : (a) that of evil speaking, which Wesley 
called the universal sin of the world; or (b) that 
of foolish talking and jesting, which should not 
be "once named among you as becometh saints," 
or (c) that of draiving attention to self, by great 
swelling words of vanity. As long as one is in 



And Sayings. 79 

public, he is so full of talk and business that God 
cannot get his attention, ibut if those sighs and 
heartaches in secret could speak they would say, 
"I have grieved the Holy Spirit today, in that 
I disregarded His tender checks and admonitions." 

The 'backslider in heart disregards the checks 
of the Spirit in the matter of "redeeming the 
time." He can waste precious moments down 
town, or in unprofitable reading and conversa- 
tion, or in lounging around pampering the flesh. 
Wesley said, "Never he unemployed; never be 
triflingly employed ; he is idle who might be bet- 
ter employed." The editor of the Success maga- 
zine said, ' 'Anybody can average (counting Sun- 
days and holidays) one hour a day in reading 
some good book. And he who will hold himself 
to it can read, in the course of a year, eighteen 
large volumes through." No excuse for igno- 
rance in this age of 'books. Jeremy Taylor said, 
"There never was an idle man, if he be a healthy 
man, who was in every respect a virtuous man." 
This is why David and many others since his day 
have fallen into sin and disgrace — they were idle 
and self-indulgent. 0, Beware! 

III. Another mark of a backslidden state is 
censoriousness. Webster says that censoriousness 
is "a disposition to blame and condemn ; severity 
in making remarks on others or on their writings 
or manners, often implying ill-nature, illiberality 
or uncharitableness." 

Finney says, "A censorious spirit is conclu- 



80 Heart Searching Sermons. 

sive evidence of a backslidden heart. This is a 
spirit of faultfinding, of impugning the motives 
of others, when their conduct admits of a char- 
itable construction. It is a disposition to fasten 
blame upon others, and judge them harshly. It is 
a spirit of distrust of Christian character and 
professions. It is a state of mind that reveaJls 
itself in harsh judgments, harsh sayings, and the 
manifestation of uncomfortable feelings toward 
individuals. This state of mind is entirely in- 
compatible with a loving heart, and wherever a 
censorious spirit is manifested by a professor of 
religion, you may know there is a 'backslidden 
heart." 

It is the same thing which causes some people 
to appear so well when away from home or when 
company is present, but at other times act touchy 
and contrary, so as to be hard to please. No dif- 
ference how such a one smiles while in meeting 
or when things are agreeable, if he is stubborn 
and self-willed when crossed or contradicted, he 
does not need the ''second blessing," but rather 
the first. Right here is where so many fail to 
obtain a genuine experience in holiness. They 
think they get it, but the fact is they are simply 
fully reclaimed. If they were to live a victorious 
life previous to their seeking the experience of 
heart purity they would then be proper candidates 
for such an experience. 

Note that this text says that the backslider in 
heart shall 'be "filled with his oivn ways." This is 
true. One of the greatest hindrances to a revival 



And Sayings. 81 

is a dear, old, charred, "■charter" church member. 
He once had the fire, but it has gone out. 

This zealous backslider is filled with his own 
devices, his own plans, his own visionary schemes. 
As a result he manifests touchiness when he is 
not recognized or appreciated. 

He is filled with his own way of praying long, 
dry prayers but cannot see that it hurts the meet- 
ing. He is filled with his own way of testifying 
and generally says the same thing. 

He is filled with his own prejudices, hence is 
loath to read or hear anything that might change 
his views or bring him under conviction. 

He is filled with his own enmities, hence it is 
easy to imagine that some one has mistreated 
him. He can call to mind unpleasant things that 
transpired years ago, but still they are fresh 
and cherished with a feeling of 'bitterness. 

He is filled with his own deceptions and now 
he can embrace strange doctrines which he for- 
merly denounced. The light he once had is be- 
come darkness. This is why so many backsliders 
take up with Christian Science, Seventh-Day Ad- 
ventism and other forms of devilism. 

He is filled with his own way of doing things 
around home, such as making fires, feeding cat- 
tle, conducting family prayers (if he has them) 
and no one can change him one iota, for he is in 
a rut and cannot get out. When a woman is 
backslidden she is so exacting and 'particular about 
cooking, drying dishes, dusting furniture and 
other duties, that no one can assist her with ease. 



82 Heart Searching Sermons 

These are some evidences of a heart void of 
'grace. Many more could be given, but it would 
do no good to one who is set in his ways. Too 
bad ! I have tried time and again to restore such 
a one to the simplicity of his first love, with but 
little success. I have actually been pained in 
spirit to hear one of these beat the air, ham- 
mer the bench and bellow around the altar. The 
hollowness of the sound and the vacancy of the 
look had a tendency to disgust and drive people 
away rather than to convict them and bring in- 
spiration to the meeting. But we could not help 
it, for the poor, deluded soul was "filled with his 
own ways," and had to run his course. Sometimes 
such souils have to fall into open sin and disgrace 
themselves before they can see their true condi- 
tion. 

A gentleman stood on his porch watching the 
storm sweep across his beautiful lawn. Though 
there was not a hard wind, his favorite tree fell 
with an unexpected crash. After the rain ceased 
he walked over to see why it had fallen. Lo, it 
was decayed in the center. Then he remembered 
how he, when a boy, had carelessly given the tree 
a stroke with an axe. It had healed over, but not 
until a drop of water bad seeped in and started a 
streak of decay which had reached the center, and 
this was the cause of its downfall. 

Likewise, dear friend, you may appear all 
right ; you may have withstood many storms, but 
if in the past you gashed your conscience and did 
something that has never been properly confess- 



And Sayings. 83 

ed and healed over, remember, your time is com- 
ing to go down and bring disappointment and 
disgrace to yourself and the work of God. Make 
all haste then to get cured at the core ! 

"Be not deceived !" "Remember therefore 
from whence thou art fallen and repent." Re- 
member! Stop and think ! Do not try to do 
anything else! It is all important that you look 
squarely at everything until it ceases to exist. It 
will never do to put on a bold front and make 
believe all is well. This will simply open the way 
for greater deceivings and delusions. Go back 
in spirit where you first broke step with God and 
begin where you left off. Take up your cross 
where you laid it down. Renew your covenant 
and once more swear allegiance to God. 

You will find Christ waiting for you where 
you last saw and forsook Him. His mother lost 
Him — the last one we -would think of doing so. 
And she lost Him in the temple — the last place 
we would think of losing Christ. Many do this — 
they lose Him amid the multiplicity of religious 
djuties and doctrines. Perhaps this is where you 
have lost Him. But as Christ's mother found 
Him where she lost Him, you may also if you, in 
like manner, retrace your steps and seek as ear- 
nestly as did she. 

"Return, Holy Dove, return, 

Sweet messenger of rest, 
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, 

And drove Thee from my breast. 

"The dearest idol I have known, 

What'er that idol be, 
Help me to tear it from Thy throne, 

And worship only Thee. 



SERMON VII. 
The Witness of the Spirit. 

Text: "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our 
spirit that we are children of God." Rom. 8:16. (R. V.) 

"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him and He is us be- 
cause He hath given us of His Spirit." 1 John 4:13. 

This is a very much neglected theme. In early 
Methodism it was one of the principal slogans. 
It was the great battle-ground of those sturdy 
spiritual giants. It was the touchstone and test 
of membership of their societies. The first ques- 
tion proposed was, "Have you the witness of the 
Spirit that you are a child of God ?" The preach- 
ing of such fundamental truths laid a deep foun- 
dation for Christian character and at the same 
time 'built a structure of strength against skep- 
ticism and false doctrine. Oh, that we had more 
of it today ! But alas, it is not the case. We have 
traveled with, and heard great and powerful 
preachers all around the globe, but have never 
as yet heard a distinct sermon on this all impor- 
tant subject. 

The witness of the Spirit may be likened to 
three things: First, the stamp of a government 
upon a coin. It 'has been marred and mutilated 
until it is unrecognizable. Yet it has intrinsic 
value, but has no purchasing power and cannot 
be circulated until it passes through the mint and 

84 



And Sayings. 85 

has the government stamp or seal put upon it. 
In like manner a soul has inestimable value, but 
can never pass current through the Pearly Gates 
until it receives the Divine imprint upon it. 

Again, the witness of the Spirit may be liken- 
ed to a notary seal, or the recording of a deed. 
No difference how correct the description, or how 
promptly the payments have been met, if the pa- 
pers lack the proper seal and signature they are 
worthless. Likewise the title to a mansion in 
the skies must have the seal of the Spirit or the 
would-be occupant will be woefully chagrined and 
disappointed when the recording angel fails to 
lind his name. 

And again, the witness of the Spirit may be 
likened to the putting up of bars or the gap of a 
fence after a herd of cattle have been driven out 
of a beautiful wheat field. If the fence is not 
fortified as well as before, the cattle will soon be 
back again. Just so a soul may reform and drive 
out of 'his life many evil things, but unless he 
gets the bars put up (the witness of the Spirit), 
eventually his vows, promises and reformation on 
various lines will become unsettled and the old 
habits will pour in upon and take hold of him 
again. It is all important then that this funda- 
mental, this mudsill, underlying Christian expe- 
rience, be well laid, else the entire structure will 
crumble and fall and great will be the fall thereof. 
There are at least three classes of souls who 
have to do with the witness of the Spirit. First, 
those who never received a satisfactory evidence 



86 Heart Searching Sermons 

to their acceptance with God. They hope they 
have and think all is well, but under a searching 
sermon or a clear testimony they have misgivings 
and could wish their evidence was brighter. 

The second class are those who once had a 
clear case of pardon or purity, but somewhere, 
somehow the evidence has become dimmed. The 
holy boldness is gone, the smiling face of God is 
veiled and there is an empty, aching void. 

The third class are those whose witness is 
brighter than ever in the past, whose path shin- 
eth more and more unto the perfect day, yea, 
whose assurance of heart purity is as clear or 
clearer than that of saving grace. 

In considering this subject we desire to adopt 
the old Puritan method of preaching, and notice 
first, what truth is not, then what it is; or what 
are some mistaken views of the witness of the 
Spirit, then what are some genuine evidences that 
a real work of grace hath been wrought in the 
soul. 

It is not — 

I. Mere relief of conscience. 
II. The witness of our own spirit. 
III. The encouragement of the Holy Spirit. 

I. The witness of the Spirit is more than a 
relief of conscience. Though we are fallen and 
depraved, thank God, there is this much left of 
the wreckage upon which to begin operation in 
making a saint — a conscience. Now when a man 
gets his consent to reform and renounce certain 
sins, his conscience will approve of the fact and 



And Sayings. 87 

of course he will feel better, like a new 'being, but 
this is not a sure evidence that he has passed from 
death unto life. Many a soul stops here because 
some one urges him to believe he is saved and 
now he begins to "work for Christ." The fact 
is he has simply taken the first step towards 
Christ. 

II. The tuitness of our own spirit. One of 
the chief differences between the pagan and the 
Christian religion is that the latter appeals to 
man's consciousness. Our own spirit will attest 
and confirm the fact when we have done our duty. 
Paul says, "For when the Gentiles, Which have not 
the law, do by nature the things contained in the 
law, these, having not the law, are a law unto 
themselves: which show the work of the law 
written in their hearts, their conscience also bear- 
ing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile ac- 
cusing or else excusing one another." Rom. 2 :14, 
15. This is good, but since the "heart is de- 
ceitful above all things and desperately wicked," 
we "dare not trust the sweetest frame" of feeling 
unless accompanied by the assurance from high 
heaven that all is well. This second class of de- 
ceived souls go a step farther than the first, and 
for the time meet the light and declare they give 
up "all they know and all they don't know." 

We were engaged in a camp meeting at which 
a prominent holiness evangelist was preaching, 
and in the course of his discourse, said, "What 
shall a soul do when he gives up all he knows and 
all he does not know? Why, claim the blessing 



88 Heart Searching Sermons 

by faith of course." We waited until after the 
service, then asked if there was not a better po- 
sition to assume, namely: instead of trying to 
take a thing by dry faith, insist on the faith that 
takes it. 

The fact is, many times a soul declares >he has 
given up everything, when there are hidden things 
in the past of which he is not aware. The proper 
attitude to take is, if a seeker has gotten to the 
end of himself and made an unconditional sur- 
render, he has a right to expect one of two things 
— the witness and endorsement of the Holy Spirit, 
or the reason of the delay. We have often noticed 
that 'by holding still a moment the clear witness 
came, or new light shone and revealed some sub- 
tle thing which needed to be seen and removed. 
God never deceives. If the seeking soul were 
only left alone, the Spirit would invariably bring 
him through. 

But the trouble is that only an occasional 
Christian worker knows how to keep out of the 
way of the Holy Ghost. Most of them begin sing- 
ing, talking and urging the seeker to claim the 
victory hef ore he has reached the point of appro- 
priating faith. We are compelled to come to one 
of two conclusions: these daubers of untempered 
mortar have either never themselves prayed 
through to the bottom, or they have gotten into a 
rut and lost the art of leading others through. Oh, 
for the grace and wisdom to mind and keep step 
with the workings of the Holy Ghost. 

We remember an instance in a certain meet- 



And Sayings. 89 

ing. A young lady came to the altar. It was 
not long (before a crowd of advisers gathered 
round and had her upon her feet, shaking hands 
and professing religion. We remained kneeling, 
with a feeling of disappointment. Her senti- 
mental smiles, hand-shakes and "hallelujahs," 
brought inward pain rather than joy. Finally 
she came to us for a hand-shake and endorsement. 
We shook her hand and thanked God for all that 
He had done, but added, "You are going as a 
waitress, to a fashionable hotel, and unless you 
are deeply rooted in God, 'when tribulation or 
persecution ariseth,' you will fall out by the way. 
Suppose we have another season of prayer." To 
this she consented, and after a few moments the 
transient joy vanished and she began to wring 
her hands in anguish, saying: "Oh! I am lost, I 
am lost!" T]he superficial altar workers first 
looked aghast at her, then with scorn at me, as 
much as to say, "Now, see what you have done; 
you have gotten her to cast away her confidence 
and she has gone into despair! Yes, you are 
not satisfied unless they go through your mill and 
get your brand upon them." 

We said nothing, but told God it was His bat- 
tle. The seeker cried out, "How can I do it, how 
can I make that confession?" We encouraged 
her to believe that God asked no imposisibility, and 
whatever the demand, He would work at the other 
end of the line and prepare hearts to receive her 
confession. Finally she said a big "Yes, yes," 
and sprang to her feet shouting and saying, "I 



90 Heart Searching Sermons 

know I am saved this time." Now the tables 
were turned and we were sorry for her deceivers, 
for they looked as though they would like to seek 
a witness as clear as that of the newly born soul, 
were it not for the fact that they posed as Chris- 
tian workers. Say, friend, have you ever prayed 
with a seeker when you felt he drilled his well 
deeper than yours and drew all the water from 
you? If so, the thing to do is to go to drilling. 

Brother, if you know what I am talking about, 
you know what soul travail means. Well, when 
like Paul you can say, "My little children, of 
whom I travail in birth a'gain, until Christ be 
formed in you" — when you are thus bearing a pen- 
itent on your arms of faith up to God, you will 
be likely to get the witness at the same time the 
seeker does and sometimes before he receives it. 
If we are living close to God we will have this 
inward discernment about souls, especially those 
for whom we are laboring at the altar. God for- 
bid we should let them stop short and be "healed 
slightly," saying, "Peace, peace when [down in 
their 'hearts] there is no peace." God forbid 
that they should condemn us at the judgment for 
not being faithful to them when we had just rea- 
son to fear they did not strike clear through. 

III. The encouragement of the Holy Spirit. 
Every step a penitent takes in submitting and 
yielding to the claims of God will bring the en- 
dorsement of the Spirit. The fact is, the Holy 
Spirit begets the desire, then eagerly watches and 
waits for cooperation. He is ever ready to in- 



And Sayings. 91 

spire and encourage the soul in its approach to 
God. 

Here we get into deep water. There is a dif- 
ference between the drawing of the Spirit and the 
witness of the Spirit. There is a difference be- 
tween the Spirit coming- upon one from with- 
out and taking up His abode ivithin. There is a 
difference between a manifestation of God to the 
soul and that same soul being made partaker of 
the Divine nature. Right here is where many 
shallow ground hearers stop. The Psalmist says, 
"Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord." 
Here we are told that he who is a seeker has a 
right to rejoice. Sometimes this seeker is so en- 
raptured at the thought of getting victory over 
some besetting sin, or being reunited to his fam- 
ily, or in escaping he'll and gaining heaven, that 
he is wont to stop and shout aloud for joy, but 
remember this is not necessarily the witness of 
the Spirit. Sometimes a soul gets a glimpse of 
what is his privilege and instead of pressing on 
until his vision becomes a reality, he stops and 
like Peter, desires to "build three tabernacles." 
Sometimes one soul has been seeking longer than 
another and when a new seeker breaks through 
and gets the glory so that his "cup runneth over," 
the former one catches the overflow and concludes 
that since he has been seeking longer than the 
other, surely he also has a right to claim the 
blessing, ibut 'he may simply be warming at an- 
other's fire. He is affected by the presence and 
power of the Spirit from without, when perhaps 



92 T Heart Searching Sermons 

his will and affections are out of harmony with 
God. He feels much better than formerly and 
because of this, hopes all is well. 

Oh, how easy it is to stop within an inch of 
the goal and When this is the case all will even- 
tually be lost. A candidate may come within one 
vote of being elected, but if this one is lacking he 
is as hopelessly defeated as though he had not 
received a vote. Now the question may arise: 
How shall we know the difference between an en- 
couragement (or a mighty manifestation of God 
to the soul) and the witness of the Spirit. We 
think this is a safe position to take: No dif- 
ference how great the encouragement (especially 
in seeking holiness) if, as time passes there is a 
growing uncertainty, and an effort has to be made 
to quiet these inward misgivings, this looks as 
though the work was incomplete. But when the 
genuine attestation or witness of the Spirit is 
gfiven though the emotion may be feeble at the 
time, yet the assurance will grow exceedingly and 
there will be no uneasiness in the presence of 
others though they think you ought to have this 
or that outward manifestation. Hence you are 
not only dead to all sin but also dead to the 
opinions of men. You are at everybody's feet 
and at the same time a thousand miles above 
their heads. You do not have to make sweeping 
statements in order to quiet your own fears or 
have others think the more highly of you. 

The receiving of the witness of the Spirit re- 
minds me of my first trip to California. While 



And Sayings. 93 

passing across the great sandy desert in Arizona, 
we frequently came to a clump of orange and 
other trees, with grass and 'beautiful flowers 
growing in every direction. At first we thought 
this must be that wonderful 'land of which we 
have heard so much — California. But no, we 
were soon flying across, the sandy desert again, 
with not a sign of a living thing in sight. Pres- 
ently we heard the blast of the whistle and once 
more vegetation and foliage greeted our eyes. 
What was it! Not California, but simply a sta- 
tion, a watering tank, an oasis in the desert. At 
last the barren sand disappeared and we reached, 
not a foretaste of, but uninterrupted California. 

In like manner when a seeker sets out to ob- 
tain an experience, especially heart purity, he will 
come to resting places, feel great relief and be 
ready to declare he has reached the goal. But 
remember, no difference how great the inspira- 
tion, or how glorious the revelation, the only safe 
place to stop is with the inward testimony, be- 
yond all doubt that the work is done. I fear the 
reason so many do not have a satisfactory expe- 
rience, that triumphs over every test, is 
that they have stopped short at an oasis of 
transient joy, instead of pressing on until the as- 
surance from \high heaven was received. 

In I. Sam. 19:12-24, we read an account of 
an old backslidden, jealous king, -filled with mur- 
derous intent, and yet when he came into a ho- 
liness convention, "T l he Spirit of the Lord was 
upon him and he went on and prophesied. " But 



94 Heart Searching Sermons 

as soon as he was out from under that blessed in- 
fluence, he was again the same raging tyrant who 
finally 'committed suicide and plunged into hell. 
This may explain why some people can go to a 
'good meeting- and have a big shout, but as soon 
as they get home they are as mean and irritable 
as before. It may also explain how a compromis- 
ing preacher can attend a holiness camp meeting, 
and when, through courtesy he is asked to preach 
he accepts, and the Spirit of God comes upon him, 
and twists 'his lying, tobacco-soaked tongue around 
and he preaches as straight a sermon as any one 
would care to 'hear. But as soon as he steps 
down and again mingles with his crowd, he is 
the same old traitor that ihe was before. God 
does the best He can and puts His Spirit upon 
individuals, but this is not always a sure sign 
they are right, or that He endorses their lives. 

Some think we place the standard too high, but 
we want to quote from Wesley on this important 
subject, viz. : "There may be foretastes of joy, of 
peace, of love, and those not delusive, long before 
we have the witness in ourselves ; before the Spirit 
of God witnesses with our spirits that we have 
"redemption in the blood of Jesus, even the for- 
giveness of sins/ Yea, there may be a degree of 
long-suffering, of gentleness, of fidelity, meekness, 
temperance (not a shadow thereof, but a real de- 
gree) before we are 'accepted in the Beloved/ and 
consequently before we have a testimony of our 
acceptance: hut it is by no means advisable to 
rest here ; it is at the peril of our souls if we do/' 



And Sayings. 95 

Let us now notice the positive side and 
consider some evidences of the witness of the 
Spirit. We will mention three. 
I. Assurance. 

II. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. 
III. Power over all outward and inward sin. 

I. Assurance. Paul, in writing to the church 
at Thessalonica declared that, ''Our gospel came 
not unto you in word only, but also in power and 
in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance." We 
do not come into the possession of valuable things 
without a keen sense of 'how it came about. It 
is impossible to come into possession of a king- 
dom and not know it. 'Imagine a prisoner who 
has been sentenced to die, receiving a pardon and 
When free, standing around looking distressed 
and saying be "trusts" be is free, he "hopes" he 
is free. 'God says, "Let the wicked forsake his 
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and 
let him return unto the Lord, and He will have 
mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will 
abundantly pardon." 

Friend, if you ihave what I am talking about, 
you know it better than you know anything else, 
for it is the biggest and most wonderful thing 
that ever took place in your life. You do not need 
to strain yourself up to make it more real, for 
the second birth is a certainty as much as the 
first. And the second work of grace is likewise 
just as positive as the first. When you have this 
assurance you do not feel sihaky and doubtful if 
some one testifies definitely or preaches power- 



96 Heart Searching Sermons 

fully. Bless God, the stronger the better! To 
illustrate: Cheap-John jewelry is liable to turn 
green if muriatic acid is applied, but not so with 
genuine gold. The iacid will only eat off the 
grease and make the pure article shine the bright- 
er. It is a 'bad sign when one gets uneasy, or 
has to leave in the midst of a Close sermon, or 
when a proposition is about to be made. 

II. Another evidence of the witness of the 
Spirit is "joy unspeakable and full of glory." We 
read in I Pet. 1 :8, "Whom having not seen, ye 
love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet 
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and 
full of glory" 

As a rule God does not duplicate Himself nor 
does He come in the identical manner a seeker 
pictures it out. Many times the soul manifests 
this newly found joy in the very way he formerly 
detested. But whether it ibe "orderly" or "vio- 
lent," remember it is "unspeakable," and if so, 
others will (know it. Such a soul is excusable, no 
difference what he does. Even if he should do 
things out of the ordinary, anything is better than 
dead orthodoxy. On such occasions some people 
sit back, look wise and criticise. But no one is 
a proper judge in these matters except he who 
has 'had a similar case of joy that was beyond de- 
scription — "unspeakable." Friend, do you know 
by blessed experience what I mean ? Do you ever 
have spells — not pouting spells, but good spells, 
for this is the meaning of the word Gospel. The 
soul that is void of these raptures is a barren soul. 



And Sayings. 97 

You may 'be ever so straight and orthodox, (but 
without holy joy you are nothing but a "whited 
sepulchre/' God help you ! It is this divine glo- 
ry on the faces of saints that disarms skeptics 
and scoffers more than all the doctrines and dog- 
mas you could preach in a million years. 

III. And still another evidence of a well 
saved soul is power over all outward and inward 
sin. We have already quoted that remarkable 
verse in Isa. 55:7. Let us notice it again: "Let 
the wicked forsake his way" — his outward sinful 
ways, as gambling, drinking, lying, swearing, 
cheating, quarreling, uncleanness and whatever 
else pertains to wrong conduct. But listen, he 
must go farther and forsake "his thoughts" — 
his did grudges, his party feelings, his unkind sus- 
picions and jealousies, his impure revelings and 
unholy imaginations, yea, every thought that is 
not to the glory of God. He must deliberately 
and forever forsake all these things, not to seek 
purity, but pardon. 

No man can harbor and cherish a wrong 
thought and get the ear of God, much less have 
His favor. We read, "If I regard iniquity in 
my heart, the Lord will not hear me." If I re- 
gard it — if I consent to it, yea, if I let it remain 
undisturbed and unattacked. The moment the 
grace of God enters the heart a mighty pitched 
'battle begins and in order to win, the conscience, 
intelligence and will must invaria'bly decide in fa- 
vor of Christ. This newly )bom soul has im- 
parted to him not only power to resist and repel 



08 Heart Searching Sermons 

all outside forces from earth and hell, but power 
also to "cast down imaginations, and every high 
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge 
of God and bring into captivity every thought 
to the obedience of Christ." He has power to 
overcome not only everything on the outside but 
to silence every clamor of the carnal mind on 
the inside. Though at times the old nature may 
assert itself, and, like a condemned criminal, try 
to escape or foment an uprising, immediately the 
new nature — "Christ in you" — que'lls the insur- 
rection and once more reigns and rules as king. 
Sometimes an unholy temper or thought under- 
takes to get away and run at large, but grace over- 
takes it and demands its return, for it is under 
sentence of death. The same thing that crucified 
our Lord must die in return. We are not preach- 
ing holiness, though this standard far surpasses 
what many profess and preach as a second work 
of grace. Brother, sister, have you the direct 
witness of the Spirit that you are right with 
God ? If so, very well, but if not never rest until 
you know the work is done. It is the only thing 
that will stand when the world is on fire. 

"Oh come and dwell in me, 

Spirit of power within; 
And bring the glorious liberty 

From sorrow, fear and sin. 
"Hasten the joyful day 

Which shall my sins consume: 
When old things shall be done away, 

And all things new become. 
"I want the witness, Lord, 

That all I do is right, 
According to Thy will and Word, 

Well pleasing in Thy sight. 



SERMON VIII. 
A Profitable Investment. 

Text: "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having 
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to 
come. 

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to 
them; that thy profiting may appear to all." 1 Tim. 4:8-15. 

God has an investment in us and He wants 
to realize great and glorious returns. We talk 
about our inheritance in heaven, but God has 
an inheritance in us, and He desires it to net a 
high profit. 

When a man gets a little money he is anxious 
to invest it where it will pay as high dividends 
as possible. So God desires not only to save us 
from our sins, but to have us bring as much glory 
to His name as will pay for the investment. 

Now when God invests in us (for He puts 
within us a deposit of His grace), He does not 
want us to wrap it up in a napkin or consume it 
upon our lusts, but desires us to work it out. 
"For it is God Who worketh in us to will and to 
do of His good pleasure." "Work out your own 
salvation." The fact is, we are bankrupt and 
God takes pity on us and gives us a start. He 
knows that we cannot love Him with our whole 
ihearts without a spiritual start. This is the rea- 
son we take exception to that book, "In His Steps." 
It presupposes that sinners can imitate Jesus by 

99 



100 Heart Searching Sermons 

a mere exertion of the will, when the fact is they 
first need the Divine quickening of a new creation. 

In the text we have a remarkable statement. 
Paul takes the position thiat instead of a godly 
life being a hindrance to success, it is just the 
opposite — "Profitable unto all things." 

And what will such a life insure? It will in- 
sure at least four things : 

I. Protection. 

II. Promotion. 

III. Perpetuity. 

IV. Prosperity. 

I. We say that godliness will insure protec- 
tion. Why not, since it is natural for all prop- 
erty owners to protect and care for their own? 
If we are wholly the Lord's, as we profess to be, 
will He not look after us? "Ye are God's hus- 
bandry [farm] , ye are God's building." All right ; 
let Him till us, let Him rent us for His and our 
profit. 

It is a nice thing to feel securely protected 
against all loss, against all danger. In the South- 
ern states a woman does not feel safe after dusk 
to pass through a cotton patch or strip of woods,or 
in fact to go anywhere, without some one accom- 
fpanying her. She has heard and read so much 
about Negro brutes assaulting white women and 
shattering their nerves for life, that this has be- 
come the one common dread to womanhood. But 
let me quiet anld relieve your fears. Here is a 
sure guarantee against misuse or abuse — fear God 



And Sayings. 101 

and honor Him in your thoughts and life and He 
will protect you. 

But, let a girl paint her face, frizz her hair, 
stand around soda fountains, giggle and laugh 
aloud, take rides and walks with a young fellow 
who wears a red necktie and 'blows cigarette 
smoke through his nose, and it will be a miracle 
if she is not ruined before she is eighteen. She 
thinks she is loved and admired above others, but 
she is mistaken, for all that these young liber- 
tines care for ber is that they may ruin her. 

Young lady, do you want a guarantee for a 
happy married life? If so, live so close to God 
that He can choose for you. If you trust to your 
own, or perhaps even your mother's choosing, you 
may make the mistake of your life. Do not de- 
ceive yourself in a young man simply because he 
is polite, has money, and treats you freely. His 
goodness may be only skin deep. If you want to 
know his real worth, find out how he treats moth- 
er or little sister at home. If he can be ugly to 
his mother and refuse to get her wood or water, 
he will do the same to you later on. If he can 
be unkind to his little sister and hurt her feelings, 
remember your time is coming. 

What do I see? I see multitudes of heart 
broken women! What are they doing? They 
are walking their little bedroom floors tonight, 
with bowed heads and hot, scalding tears stream- 
ing down their faces. Listen to wbat they are 
saying, "My God ! Why was I ever born? I thought 
John was a good man and because he had money, 



102 Heart Searching Sermons 

I fondly hoped for a nice home with servants 
and furniture ever so fine. But where is he? 
Off gambling or with some other woman, and here 
I am without necessary comforts, with these lit- 
tle children crying for bread ! What shall I do ? 
Were it not for fear of plunging into hell I would 
now end the whole thing." Yes there are, right 
now, many haggard, lonely women who were once 
just as pretty and had just as many friends, and 
as fair prospects as any of you, who are saying 
or at least feeling these very things. How did it 
all come about? By flirting, by sitting half way 
back in the congregation, hy being ashamed of the 
humlble people of God. And now they are reap- 
ing what they sowed. 

The medical fraternity tell us that from 70 
to 90 per cent, of the young men are diseased or 
at least not fit to marry a pure virgin, and were 
it not for the pure blood in the veins of the young 
mothers, in one generation the majority of child- 
ren would be blind, deformed or idiotic. Godli- 
ness will protect you against so serious a risk as 
this. 

But it is a poor rule that will not work both 
ways. Many a man has been deceived in think- 
ing that a good companion consisted of a beautiful 
face and form and the ability to thump a piano. 
But this is no way to judge. Find out if she has 
pouting spells at home ; find out if she is too lazy 
to wash the dishes or iron her own clothes ; find 
out if she lies abed in the morning while mother 
gets the breakfast. Does she love novels and story 



And Sayings. 103 

papers? Is she so nervous that she screams at 
the sight of a worm or mouse? Is she so effem- 
inate that she cannot look at you when speaking? 
Or, on the other hand, is she so bold and talkative 
as to weary you with her company? 

If these things exist, better go slowly or you 
will get "more than you bargain for/' 

There are many men who work like slaves and 
are tempted to dishonesty in order to get money 
for a wife who must have fine clothes, and if the 
money is not forthcoming, he is hen-pecked until 
life is a burden. It is all because lust played a 
greater part in the engagement and marriage 
than did the glory of God. Godliness will protect 
you against getting the wrong companion. 

Some years ago we were conducting a rescue 
home in Cleveland, Ohio. There were certain 
streets and alleys down in the red light district 
where a policeman did not dare go alone lest he 
should foe knocked down. But in this same lo- 
cality one of our rescue workers or a Salvation 
Army "lassie" could go any hour in the night and 
the thugs would swear at each other and say, 
"Stand back and let that good lady through!" 
What was the secret of her power? Purity! Her 
purity was a greater protection than a revolver 
or "billy." Whoever you may foe, let me say, if 
you want to avoid pitfalls, disappointment and 
disgrace, begin now to live a godly life. 

I have heard my sainted Minnie relate how 
God delivered her from a "white slaver" in Chi- 
cago. When font seventeen years of age, she came 



104 Heart Searching Sermons 

across Lake Michigan by boat, landing there very 
early in the morning. She was to go to 104 
Franklin street (then the Free Methodist Pub- 
lishing house), where she would join a band of 
Christian workers. I quote from her "Life:" 

"Never having been in a large city before, she 
felt a little confused. A woman with a child in 
her arms stepped up and asked her where she 
wanted to go. She told her readily and felt very 
grateful when the woman said that she was going 
right 'by Franklin street, and would show her the 
way. 

"First, the accommodating stranger stepped 
up to a convenient stand and ordered lemonade. 
An inward voice said, 'Don't drink it? and it 
was left untouched. 

"After walking a long distance, Minnie felt 
some uneasiness. She had (been told that it was 
only a short walk, and she asked if they had not 
lost the way. 'Oh, no,' said the woman, 'we 
are almost there now.' A little further, and this 
young girl heard the inward voice again, 'Don't 
take another step.' She saw a merchant in the 
door of his store, looking at her pityingly, she 
thought. '1 am going to ask that man the way 
to Franklin street," she said. 'No, no,' said the 
woman. 'Come on, it is just around the corner.' 
But she resolutely turned away to ask the man, 
and as she did so, her companion signalled a pass- 
ing street car, and was soon out of sight. 

"You poor child," said the man, "you are a 
mile and a half from where you want to go. That 



And Sayings. 105 

woman was leading you wrong." Following his 
kind direction, she found the place at last, and 
soon realized what a narrow escape she had. She 
did not dream of danger in accompanying the 
innocent looking woman with the baby in her 
arms. There was no human friend to warn her. 
But the Lord checked her as she was about to 
drink the lemonade, which without doubt was 
drugged. And again, he led her to ask the man 
the way, just before the house was reached, which 
closes its door annually upon so many as inno- 
cent and unsuspecting as she." 

After we were married we held a meeting in 
Blairsville, Pa. We had an old church for our 
meetings, and lived in the class rooms below the 
audience room. Sister Shelhamer was an at- 
tractive woman. Always discreet and modest, 
the opposite sex, if possessed of any remnant of 
manhood, knew by her very appearance and bear- 
ing that they must keep their place. But here, a 
man annoyed her exceedingly by keeping his eyes 
on her in the meetings, and venturing to compli- 
ment her sermons. She avoided him as much as 
possible. 

One afternoon I went to the depot to take the 
train for another town, where I had an appoint- 
ment to preach. The other workers were out. 
Some one knocked, and what was her alarm, when 
that man came in, and she was all alone! She 
saw it all in a flash ; he had watched until he saw 
me leave, seized his opportunity, and now she was 
at his mercy. To her great relief, and the man's 



106 Heart Searching Sermons 

confusion, just then I stepped in, having missed 
my train. And again she recognized and adored 
the Divine Protector. Surely God had ordered 
it all. 

II. Godliness ivill insure promotion. It is a 
false notion that one has to tone down and lay 
aside God-given convictions in order to climb and 
amount to something. Some of you will soon be 
forgotten and there will be nothing left behind 
you to bless the world, simply because you were 
afraid to obey your convictions. It seems to me 
that this is one of the saddest things of this age — 
lack of moral stamina. If I had to write in one 
sentence the greatest need of the day, I would 
write, ''Oh, for men and women who have the 
courage to express and follow their convictions!" 
Some of you have backbones like cotton strings — 
can be wound around another's finger either way, 
just to suit convenience. God wants to give you 
a backbone more like an iron crowbar, that will 
enable you to defy poverty, persecution and death 
in order to be free and untrammeled. 

I conducted a meeting in Philadelphia and was 
entertained across the street from the great Gi- 
rard College, built and richly endowed by Stephen 
Girard, an infidel tea and coffee broker. One Sat- 
urday night, years ago, he announced to his clerks 
that a cargo of sugar had just arrived from Cuba 
and that he wanted all hands to appear for duty 
the next day. One of his chief clerks ventured 
to request that he be excused from Sunday work, 
saying he would work over time on Monday. But 



And Sayings. 107 

Mr. Girarcl cut him short and wanted to know his 
reasons. 

The young man replied that he had conscien- 
tious scruples against Sunday work. This en- 
raged the skeptic who said, "Away with your re- 
ligious cant! You appear for duty. If I let one 
off, I will have to let others off." The next morn- 
ing the young man did not appear, but was there 
bright and early Monday. He was told to go to 
the cashier's office and get his time. As a con- 
sequence he waJlked the streets for weeks without 
work. But God had His eye upon him. One day 
Mr. Girard was accosted by a banker who asked 
if he could put him on track of a good young man 
for a cashier in a suburban Ibank. 

"Yes," replied Mr. Girard, "I know a fine 
young man who worked for me, but I discharged 
him because he was too religious to work on Sun- 
day; and any young .man who has a widowed 
mother to support and will lose a good position 
rather than violate ; his conscience I consider safe 
to trust anywhere." 

The young man was found and given the po- 
sition. Did it pay him to be true? Had he caved 
in like many of you have done he would now be 
holding down a little position when a better one 
was waiting for him. Do you know that there 
are banking institutions and large corporations 
looking for men of principle and piety ? Some of 
you are selling out too cheap, you are working 
against your best interest. 

Several years ago a railroad man of Mans- 



108 Heart Searching Sermons 

field, Pennsylvania, was wonderfully converted. 
With his conversion came the conviction that he 
should not work on the Lord's day. He requested 
the superintendent of his division to give him 
another job which did 'not necessitate Sunday 
work, though it might mean less wages. But what 
do railroad officials care about a man's conscience ? 
Being a brakeman on the local freight which ran 
into Pittsburg, he did not need to make the Sun- 
day trip except on "special" runs, which were 
once or twice a month. Of course when the test 
came the man was true to God and as a result 
lost his position. He walked the streets looking 
for any kind of work, but a panic was on which 
meant that there were ten men for every job. 
His money began to ebb and it was not long until 
the last dollar was gone. Next, his grocer in- 
formed him that though he had been a good cus- 
tomer, all would have to be treated alike — which 
meant that there was to be no credit business. 
This, along with the fact that winter was coming 
on and the children needed shoes and clothing, 
made the dear man desperate. His wife did not 
fail to chide him for his "fanatical notion of giv- 
ing up a good job." What shall he do? What 
did he do ? Instead of asking for his old position, 
he took his Bible, locked himself in the bedroom 
and kneeling before God read and argued his case 
as follows : "I have been young and now am old ; 
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor 
his seed begging bread." "Seek first the king- 
dom of God and His righteousness and all these 



And Sayings. 109 

things shall be added." He told God that he had 
taken this stand for Christ's sake and now He 
must help him out. After a long struggle he 
prayed through and shouted the victory. When 
he opened the door and came out smiling and 
singing, his wife wrung her hands and cried out, 
"Oh, my God! It is not enough to be without 
something to eat and wear, ibut my poor husband 
has lost his mind." Nio, the had simply fought 
the good fight of faith and received the assurance 
that God would undertake. The next day he re- 
ceived a telegram to come to the office of the su- 
perintendent. On his way down, old Beelzebub 
stepped up, walked 'beside (him and started a con- 
versation. 

"What will you do if your old job is offered to 
you again?" 

"I will thank them, but politely refuse." 

When he arrived he was informed that there 
was an opening on the local passenger accommo- 
dation which ran into Pittsburg only six days in 
the week. He accepted, and now has a cleaner, 
safer position, with twenty dollars a month 
higher wages. 

Did it pay him to "swear to his own hurt and 
change not"? Did it pay him to be true to his 
convictions and stand the test, though it meant 
temporary suffering? God is looking for those 
who have martyr material in them. He takes de- 
light in promoting such. Sometimes it is a pro- 
motion upward and sometimes downward. Some- 
times He enlarges the purse and sometimes per- 



110 Heart Searching Sermons 

mits it to be diminished but shrinks up the ne- 
cessity so that there is not need for so much. 
Well, what of it? Either way reveals His over- 
rulings. 

III. Godliness ivill insure perpetuity. Sin 
paralyzes while godliness perpetuates. Wesley 
said, "God does not love inconstant souls. He 
loves that which resembles His own immutabil- 
ity." Perhaps this is one reason Why some peo- 
ple never accomplish anything permanent. They 
are always busy but so changeable and easily in- 
fluenced that nothing remains after they are gone. 
God says, "The righteous also shall hold on his 
way, and he that hath clean hands shall be strong- 
er and stronger." He also says, "Bloody and 
deceitful men shall not live out half their days." 
If ungodly men live long, it is the exception rather 
than the rule. God is merciful and sometimes 
lets wicked men live to an old age, not because 
they are wicked, but in spite of their wickedness. 
They might have lived still longer had they hon- 
ored God in their lives. 

Some of <us would have been dead and forgot- 
ten years ago had we not sought religion. Have 
you ever noticed that most of the sad and sudden 
deaths come to those who drink, disregard the 
Sabbath or are disloyal to their marriage vows? 
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his 
neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that with- 
out remedy." 

Prof. Elmer Gates, a scientist in Washington, 
D. C., has proven the power of good and evil 



And Sayings. Ill 

thoughts upon the body. He places in a glass 
tube the exudation from the pores of the skin, 
and by treating them chemically, can prove by 
the chemical reaction what kind of thought waves 
were sent over the body. "Positive" currents of 
thought are thoughts of peace, contentment, love 
(not lust), and things that pertain to happiness 
and health. "Negative" currents are those of 
anger, hate, jealousy, sensuality, grief, anxiety 
and things that pertain to remorse and disease. 
The negative currents have a tendency to destroy 
the tissues and throw out through the pores and 
other excretory channels the valuable elements of 
the nervous system. One can stand such abuse 
for a while, and appear well and happy, but soon- 
er or later there comes a break down. Or, to say 
the least, he who harbors ignoble and sinful 
thoughts will suffer more in mind and body than 
the momentary satisfaction of sin was worth. 

According to this, every one ought to seek sal- 
vation in self-defense. You will live longer and 
happier for having lived pure and holy. "Be not 
deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a 
man soweth, that shall he also reap. ,, 

I conducted a meeting in South Carolina, and 
the closing night there was much conviction on 
the people. We prolonged the call for penitents 
and finally I felt led to say that some one was 
trifling and resisting for the last time. I felt so 
strange that I declined to pronounce the bene- 
diction. Little did I know how soon one of those 
present would plunge into hell. Just as the peo- 



112 Heart Searching Sermons 

pie were passing out a young man seeing his rival 
with a former lady friend, was immediately en- 
raged, and drawing a knife, proceeded to stab 
him. After receiving several wounds, the second 
young man drew a revolver and threatened to kill 
him if he did not desist. But he kept on, where- 
upon the revolver was fired without taking effect. 
The young man with the revolver being backed 
off stumbled over a stick of wood and fell. At 
this the would J be murderer said, "I've got you 
now and will kill you." But before he carried 
out his threat a third shot pierced his heart, and 
with knife in hand, he fell dead across his vic- 
tim's body. Some one came rushing in and said, 
"Came out quickly — a man is killed. " We went 
out and there 'he lay with his mouth full of sand 
and his eyes already glassy. We picked up his 
limp body and carried it into the church up the 
aisle, and passing the very altar at which he ought 
to have knelt, laid him upon the platform. I 
could not help but remark, "Poor young man, had 
you only knelt at this altar of prayer we would 
not need to have carried your lifeless body up 
here now." From this sad incident let me re- 
mind you that no one is safe while unsaved. You 
know not wnen that jealousy, temfper or lust of 
yours will get the best of you, and the result will 
be an untimely end. 

True, you may not have a sudden or calami- 
tous death, yet your influence for good may be 
dead long before you die. Some people who have 
shut God out of their lives, and are busily engaged 



And Sayings. 113 

at this or that, are as truly damned as they ever 
will be. They are simply waiting for the brittle 
thread of life to snap and they will naturally 
gravitate to where they belong. A fearful thought, 
but such is the sequence of sin. 

IV. Godliness ivill insure prosperity. We 
read, "This book of the law shall not depart out 
of thy mouth ; tat thou shalt meditate therein day 
and night, that thou mayest observe to do accord- 
ing to all that is written therein: for then thou 
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou 
shsit have good success." Josh. 1:8. 

"As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God made 
him to prosper." It was said of Joseph, "That 
Which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." And 
the Psalmist declared that he whose "delight" was 
in the law of the Lord so as to "meditate day and 
night" thereon, "Whatsoever he doeth shall pros- 
per." 

These and many other passages go to show that 
godliness is not only profitable to soul and body, 
but also as a temporal investment. I know that 
some are ready to cry out and quote Lazarus and 
others to prove that we must always be hard 
pressed; that we cannot subscribe for good pa- 
pers, buy good books or take the entire family to 
camp meeting. 

While God has no special respect for the rich, 
He nowhere puts a premium upon poverty, and 
while it is a great blessing that the "poor have the 
gospel preached unto them," yet many of us are 
poor, not because we have honored God so much, 



114 r Heart Searching Sermons 

but because we have dishonored Him. Some peo- 
ple are always behind and cannot do what they 
ought toward the work of God at home or abroad, 
because of one of three things — laziness, extrav- 
agance or poor management. Many are too lazy 
and easy-going to succeed ; others work hard but 
are always pressed because of extravagance or 
poor management. This is seen in the kitchen; 
in the buying of clothes ; in giving to the doctors 
or drug stores what could be saved were proper 
diet and exercise given to the body. 

It is doubtful if there is more than one person 
in a thousand who receives all the benefit from 
water, internally and externally that God intend- 
ed. The same could be said concerning air and 
exercise, also what, when and how to eat. Be- 
cause of these things there is an immense waste 
of time, energy and money. No wonder the apos- 
tle prayed, "Beloved, I wish above all things that 
thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy 
soul prospereth." 

My father-in-law use to say while lecturing: 
"When the struggle for existence begins, the op- 
portunity for usefulness ends." Here is a great 
truth. God does not want us to be always strug- 
gling for a mere spiritual or temporal existence. 
Sad to say, this is about all most people do. It 
is all they can do to keep their heads above the 
billows, whereas they ought to be "more than con- 
querors." After mastering everything, one 
should be able to turn around and help others who 
are struggling to come to the top. God says, "If 



And Sayings. 115 

thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy 
the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in ob- 
scurity and thy darkness be as the noonday." In- 
stead of always taking in like a sponge, God 
would have us so well fed and. filled that we can 
give out, having more than we need for ourselves. 
Amen. 

I am not pleading for covetousness or a hoard- 
ing spirit, but for such diligence and frugality as 
to enable one to always be in a position to 
help rather than be helped. A genuine 
case of godliness will sooner or later make 
this a possibility. God foiibdd that you 
should then swing to the other extreme, as 
many have done, and give proportionately less 
than when you were struggling with adversity. 
Wesley's three maxims, if followed conscientious- 
ly, would insure not only prosperity bnt liberality 
as well. They were these: "Make all you can, 
save all you can, and give all you can." A covet- 
ous 'heart will agree to the first two, but there are 
very few who know the joys of giving all they 
can. God help us to he symmetrical and not lop- 
sided Christians ! And now you who are partic- 
ularly concerned know for yourselves if these 
characteristics of godliness exist in your lives. 
If so, very well ; if not, look well lest you simply 
have the "form of godliness" without the life and 
power thereof. 



SERMON IX. 
What It Costs To Be Damned. 

Text: "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from 
the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he 
found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the tare there- 
of, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish 
from the presence of the Lord." Jonah 1:3. 

I am to preach to you tonight on the subject: 
"What it Costs to be Damned." You will notice 
the text is taken from the book of Jonah. For the 
benefit of the small minded skeptic, or the broad 
minded higher critic, let me diverge enough to 
say that I believe the story of Jonah and the whale. 
Why ? First, because Jesus Christ believed it and 
referred to it in Matt. 12:40. The story is au- 
thentic or Jesus Christ Himself was the greatest 
deceiver the world ever saw. Secondly, I believe 
the story, because it is true to human nature. 
Every one of us has had a similar experience with 
Jonah, only on a smaller scale. Thirdly, I be- 
lieve the account because from a physiological 
standpoint it was a possibility. There has been 
a great deal of quibbling over the whale. They 
say his throat is too small to admit of a man. 
Well, what of it? The Book says, "Now the Lord 
had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah." 
Jesus called it a "whale." When God Almighty 
prepares to (Jo a thing, all He needs to do is speak 
the word and the thing is made to order. 

When in London we visited the Museum of 
116 



And Sayings. 117 

Natural Science. Here we saw whales measuring 
up to sixty-nine feet in length, with each jaw- 
bone twenty feet long. Twenty-six tons of oil 
and twenty-six hundred pounds of whalebone 
were taken from one. It was so large that six 
or eight persons could enter at once. I stepped 
inside and with arms outstretched, could not touch 
its ribs, and my head did not reach its (backbone. 

Without doubt, a whale of such dimensions 
could have held Jonah. The whale's diet consists 
both of small fish and enormous sea monsters. One 
of these was on exhibition here, called the "Giant 
Squid." It was a hideous looking creature with 
feelers extending from every side. Its round body 
was nearly eleven feet long and its two tentacular 
arms were something like thirty-three feet. If 
the whale could swallow such a monster surely he 
could take care of the disobedient prophet! 

Notice that the account is explicit, for it says 
that this Jonah was the ".son of Amittai." Per- 
haps this was necessary in order to distinguish 
him from the numerous other Jonahs everywhere 
who are disobeying the call of God. 

By referring to 2 Kings 14:25, we find that 
Jonah prophesied in the days of King Jereboam, 
and warned the king of approaching danger. Now 
a little later God calls the same prophet to hold 
a street meeting up and down Main street in Nin- 
eveh, a city of about 600,000 inhabitants. This 
was quite a come down — for the prophet to walk 
and cry against that "great city" after having 
been special adviser to King Jereboam. He evi- 



118 Heart Searching Sermons 

dently must have been like some preachers today, 
who would rather preach to a lot of empty seats 
than to hold a street service and get down among 
the people. The result was he became self-cen- 
tered and important, but after he had the appli- 
cation of a sea-weed poultice (chap. 2:5), his 
head became normal in size and he was ready to 
obey. 

As soon as he struck dry land he heard the 
voice of God, "the second time, saying, Arise, go 
unto Nineveh, that great city and preach unto 
it the preaching that I ibid thee." I gather from 
this statement the thought that God is unchange- 
able and what is once light is always light. If 
you ihad light and convictions ten years ago on 
tithing, fasting, plainness of dress, Sabbath ob- 
servance, etc., that light is binding upon you the 
same today. It is not enough to say you have 
changed your views and "look at things different- 
ly now." Perhaps you do and this may account 
for the fact that you have less fire, holy unction 
and burden for souls than formerly. It was a 
sad day when you laid aside your conscientious 
scruples. We could get other lessons from the 
life of Jonah, but we pass on now to the subject 
in hand. 

Notice the wording of the latter part of the 
text: "So he paid the fare thereof," then "went 
down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from 
the (presence of the Lord." Yes, when one starts 
away from God he starts dmvnward, and he gen- 
erally goes with a crowd. 



And Sayings. 119 

We frequently hear sinners say that it costs 
too much to be saved, that there is too much to 
give up ; too much restitution to make, and sim- 
ilar excuses. But I want to prove tonight, if God 
will help me, that it will cost more to be damned 
than to be saved. It will cost more tears, more 
sleepless nights, more losses and disappointments 
in life to have your own way than to let God lead 
and direct your path. 

Jonah "paid the fare," but never reached Tar- 

shish. You can ;pay the fare, yet never reach the 

Tarshish of your earthly ambitions. And what 

will be the price you will have to pay ? It may be, 

I. Defeat in business. 

II. Disrespect of others. 

III. Decay of health. 

IV. Divine protection forfeited. 

I. Defeat in business. Perhaps I am now 
speaking to those who have suffered loss finan- 
cially because of sin. In fact most of us have to 
some extent. I tell you it costs in dollars and 
cents to live for the devil. Had you not been so 
proud and self-willed you would not have gotten 
into that lawsuit back there which has cost you 
clearly. Had yon been kinder and more genial 
in your ways you would have won instead of lost 
patronage. Had it not been for that unholy al- 
liance with some man or woman your domestic 
relations would have been more pleasant, and you 
would not have been at so much expense. Had that 
young clerk remained at home at night, improved 
his mind and studied how to make old people hap- 



120 Heart Searching Sermons 

ipy, he not only would have retained his virtue, 
tbut might have been promoted and by this time 
owned the business. 

Many men have had their noses on the grind- 
stone of poverty, working like slaves and merely 
making a living, who ought to be connected with 
some firm or running business for themselves. 
Why is it? There is only one reason and that 
reason is SIN. It may have taken one form or 
another — intemperance, dishonesty, sensuality, 
selfishness, extravagance, idleness, sports, or any 
other form, but remember it was that slimy, poi- 
sonous thing we call sin that defeated these ca- 
pable men and brought them low. Young man, 
let me urge you to go into partnership with Jesus 
Christ. It is to your interest in every way. Mul- 
titudes, who once had better prospects than you, 
have made wretched failures simply because they 
trusted to their own wisdom and sagacity. "The 
drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty : 
and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." 

II. Disrespect of others. Sin is disrespect- 
ful. It disrespects the claims of God and the 
rights of humanity, and in return brings upon 
its victim the disrespect of others. "Evil com- 
munications corrupt good manners." I dare say 
that many of you can look back and see where 
your ill manners lowered you in the estimation 
of another. It may have been your own compan- 
ion, whose affections you worked hard to win. 
Then, afterwards when irritated over some little 
affair, with one word you drove a dagger to the 



And Sayings. 121 

heart of the one you loved. You would have giv- 
en your right arm if you could have recalled the 
hasty word or unkind look, but the deed was done. 
It does not pay to treat another disrespectfully, 
for who knows but that yoai will need to ask some 
favor of him later on. It may be a little ragged 
street urchin. Treat him right, for you may be 
glad to have him recognize you some day. Are 
you not sorry for a mean, snarling old man or 
woman wandering about with no friends or mon- 
ey? Would it not be sad if you finally became 
such? All right, just go on tossing your head 
and acting independently; just go on finding fault 
with mother about your clothes or meals; just 
go on being blunt and unaccommodating; just 
keep on lying and acting deceitful. In short, live 
for self, pamper your feelings, ibe disagreeable 
and discourteous to others and you will not be 
missed much when you die. "A man that hath 
friends must shew himself friendly." "A good 
name is rather to ibe chosen than great riches." 

III. Decay of health. Sin not only affects 
the mind and manners but the body as well. Mul- 
titudes die before their time. Sin kills them. I 
had a cousin ; we played together and he had bet- 
ter prospects for living than had I. But lust 
killed him at twenty-two years of age. It was 
said he died of typhoid fever, but this was false. 
He drank and gave way to licentiousness until he 
undermined his health; then when fever seized 
him he did not have enough resistance left to 
fight his way through. 



122 Heart Searching Sermons 

In that remarkable old book, "A Serious Call 
to a Holy Life," by Wm. Law, we read an account 
of a fashionable lady who was a great church 
worker. She had three daughters, all frail in 
health. The eldest died in the twentieth year of 
her age. Her sickness and death were so mys- 
terious that the doctor suggested a post mortem 
examination. The grief -stricken mother consent- 
ed and to their horror and surprise it was found 
that (because of tight lacing the ribs 'had grown 
into the poor girl's liver and killed her. 

Yes, pride has killed many a girl because fash- 
ion decreed she should go bare-headed, bare- 
armed and next to bare as far down and as far 
up as the law will permit ; then in this semi-nude 
condition she goes to a ball or theatre, or parades 
the streets, and the result is a cold, consumption 
and a corpse. This is what it may cost you to 
turn your back on light and flee from the pres- 
ence of the Lord. 

Sometimes we venture to speak to young men 
about their souls and we get such answers as 
these: "I am sowing my wold oats," "I believe 
in a short life and a merry one." In answer to 
these excuses let me say that a reaping time al- 
ways follows the sowing, and in addition, one 
reaps more than he sows. Remember this, young 
man! You may say you believe in "a short life 
and a merry one." Ah! You betrayed yourself. 
Your excuse implies that the life you are living 
means a short one. Better say a long life and a 
happy one. God says, "With long life will I sat- 



And Sayings. 123 

isfy him and show him my salvation. " Most 
young men cut their lives short by dissipation and 
exposure. One night's lying out drinking booze 
or playing cards may mean five or ten years cut 
off the end of your life. You may think you are 
having a "big time" at the races or bawdy house, 
but wait a few months or years and then see how 
you feel. Better be sure than sorry. You should 
get religion in self-defense if nothing more. 

Sin is deceitful. You may not go into open 
wickedness, but simply give way in your mind 
and imaginations to vileness. Look out, or rather 
look in ! Every time you feast your eyes or mind 
upon that which is ignoble, a black-winged sculp- 
tor steps up and chisels a line of coarseness and 
meanness upon your countenance. No wonder 
we read, "The shew of their countenance doth wit- 
ness against them ; and they declare their sin as 
Sodom, they hide it not." 

Here are some things to think about: 
"Prof. Peelman, of the University of Bonn, 
has recently been conducting a series of inves- 
tigations. Beginning with a single profligate 
woman, he traced the personal records of her 
children and their descendants for six succeeding 
generations. There were 834 descendants, and 
of that number complete records of 709 were ob- 
tained. It was discovered that 100 were of ille- 
gitimate birth, 162 were professional beggars, 64 
of them died in almshouses, 181 women lived lives 
of open shame, 76 were convicted and imprisoned 
for crime, and 7 were executed for murder. Prof. 



124 Heart Searching Sermons 

Peelman estimates that the descendants of this 
one woman within one hundred years have cost 
the state, in support of paupers and (punishment 
of criminals, an average of $12,000 a year, or a 
total of $1,200,000." 

And again: 

"Jonathan Edwards was born in 1703. One 
thousand three hundred and ninety-four of his 
descendants have been identified, of whom thir- 
teen were 'presidents of great universities, sixty- 
five professors in colleges and universities, sixty 
doctors of medicine, one hundred clergymen and 
missionaries, seventy-five officers in the army and 
navy, sixty prominent authors, thirty judges, one 
vice-president, three United States senators, sev- 
eral governors, members of Congress, framers of 
state constitutions, mayors of cities, and minis- 
ters of foreign courts. Fifteen railroads, many 
banks, insurance companies, and great industrial 
enterprises have been indebted to the Edwards 
family for careful management. Thirty-three 
American states and several foreign countries and 
ninety-two American cities and many foreign ones 
have been beautified by the influence of this fam- 
ily. 

Here is what might have been written of him 
or his, had he not been enlisted on the side of 
right : 

Max Jukes was 'born in 1720 — seventeen years 
after the ibirth of Mr. Edwards. His descendants 
have been identified as follows: Three hundred 
and ten found homes in almshouses, three hun- 



And Sayings. 125 

dred died of want in childhood, four hundred and 
forty were viciously diseased, fifty notorious for 
immorality, seven murderers, many habitual 
thieves, one hundred and thirty convicted more 
or less often for crime. Not one of this man's de- 
scendants ever "Contributed anything in either 
wealth or character to the public weal; but on 
the contrary, each one is declared to have cost 
the public over $1,000, or all of them a grand total 
of $1,250,000." 

Once more : 

"A woman of criminal tendencies, who died in 
1827, had given birth to several children, all of 
whom inherited her criminal traits. By follow- 
ing the records of her offspring from generation 
to generation, it has been found that, up to May, 
1902, no less than seven hundred of them had 
been convicted of criminal offenses, and that thir- 
ty-seven had been executed for committing mur- 
der. The offspring of this one woman had, up 
to that date, cost the government about three 
million dollars for court trials and executions. 
And all this crime with costs resulted from one 
woman's thoughts, multiplied in her offspring." 

Scientists tell us that the blood undergoes a 
chemical change every time tone gives way to an- 
ger or jealousy. It is a known fact that mothers 
have thrown their children into convulsions and 
actually killed them \by nursing them immediately 
after being greatly excited or angered. It is also 
a fact that a man whose body is permeated with 
nicotine or liquor often becomes the parent of 



126 Heart Searching Sermons 

an inebriate. Great God, if this 'be true, no one 
is fit to live, much less become responsible for an- 
other life, until he is made partaker of the Divine 
nature ! 

I once knew a woman who with her husband 
felt the call of God to preach, but rebelled be- 
cause sbe disliked to move from place to place. 
In order to smother her own convictions and hin- 
der her husband, she prayed that she might be- 
come a mother. Her request was granted and for 
about thirty years she lived "at one place" caring 
day and night for a 'helpless, slobbering idiot. 

Yes, disobedience costs in dollars and cents, 
it costs friendships, it costs good health and long 
life. In fact, sin spells disease, disappointment 
and despair. "Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : 
for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also 
reap." 

IV. Divine protection forfeited here and 
hereafter. It is worth a great deal to have the 
protection of God through life, but it is worth 
more to be able to say with the Psalmist, "Yea, 
though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me ; 
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." Yes, 
religion is a good thing to die by and if so it ought 
to be a good thing during the changing scenes of 
life. It is an awful thing to be exposed to the 
wrath of God. 

Perhaps I am preaching right now to those 
who are constantly in fear and dread. Even while 
sitting here you may be restless and agitated. 



And Sayings. 127 

What aibout? Bemuse you are fighting against 
God. Because you know you are not walking in 
past light and doing your whole duty. It may be 
a call to preach, as in the case of Jonah. Or it 
'may be that while you were in great danger or a 
loved one was near death you promised God and 
your own conscience that you would obey. But 
you have lied to the Holy Ghost and taken some- 
thing back that was laid upon the altar of God. 
No wonder you feel guilty. No wonder you can- 
not look up and claim His protection for your 
property, your child and yourself. And unless 
you repent, this is only the "beginning of sor- 
rows." If you feel like this now, what will you 
do when the lightnings of God's wrath are let 
loose? Even now the bloodhounds of justice are 
tugging at the throne to get loose and take ven- 
geance upon your guilty soul. 

Some years ago (my wife and some other la- 
dies were holding a meeting in Corning, Iowa. 
One day the city was terrified when on the far 
western horizon there appeared a strange funnel- 
shaped cloud swinging back and forth like the 
pendulum of a clock. As it came across the prai- 
rie, it twisted large trees off as though they were 
rye^straws. Houses were demolished, box cars 
tumbled about like toys, while boards, shingles 
and fence posts (blackened the air. What was it? 
A western cyclone in all its fury. Business men 
and weak-kneed skeptics began to pray and plead 
for protection. How aibout these Christian 
workers? Two of them were walking home from 



128 Heart Searching Sermons 

the post office, feeling secure in God, when a large 
man (who was a Catholic) slipped up, and walk- 
ing close behind them said, "I never opposed you 
good people as others have." What was he try- 
ing to do? Find a little comfort and protection 
in time of danger by getting close to these holy 
women. 

O friend, when the storms of Eternity begin 
to iblow and the terrors of impending doom seize 
men's souls, then you will want a place of refuge. 
Then you would be willing to give worlds to ex- 
change places with those whom you have mocked 
and ridiculed. When the sky rolls back like a 
scroll and Jesus, with ten thousand angels comes 
riding upon the clouds with power and great gilo- 
ry, every eye will be riveted upon the King of 
kings and Lord of lords. The saints and re- 
deemed of all ages will look placid and restful as 
they rise to meet their victorious Lord. But how 
about you, Christ rejecter? Methinks I see un- 
saved children and loved ones who put toff the 
day of their salvation! What are they doing? 
With iblamched and petrified looks they are first 
seeking a place of refuge, then again, trying to 
get the attention of some lovely saint, if per- 
chance he may have some influence with the Judge 
severe. But there is no bribing now. Every one 
has forgotten all others and is busily taken up 
with the all important thought, Where shall I 
hide? How can I escape the wrath of God? O 
sinner, what will you do in that day? It may 
soon be upon us. The signs of the times indicate 



And Sayings. 129 

it. Will you not break away now from every in- 
fluence that hinders you? It may foe you Will 
have to break away from the very ones sitting by 
your side, (but you must go the heavenly way skir 
gie and a'lone with Jesius. You dare not wait for 
others, you cannot go 'With a crowd. Do not par- 
ley. The door will soon be shut! The blackness 
of Eternity's night may be settling down yonder. 
Flee for thy life ; tarry not in all the plain. You 
may fed refuge tonight in the Rock of Ages, in 
the wounds of your crucified Lord ! Will you do 
so? He Waits now to receive you. 

"Vain man, thy fond pursuits forbear; 

Repent, thine end is nigh: 
Death, at the farthest can't be far: 

Oh, think before thou die. 

"Reflect, thou hast a soul to save; 

Thy sins how high they mount! 
What are thy hopes beyond the grave? 

How stands that dark account? 

"Death enters, and there's no defence; 

His time, there's none can tell; 
He'll in a moment call thee hence, 

To heaven, or down to hell. 

"Thy flesh (perhaps thy greatest care) 
Shall into dust consume; 
But, ah, destruction stops not there: 
Sin kills beyond the tomb." 



SERMON X. 
Mile Posts Toward Hell. 

Text: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."— Ezek. 18:4 

It 'becomes the duty of the faithful ambassador 
of Christ, to sipeak, not only of the glories of heav- 
en, ibut of the horrors of hell ; not only of the fe- 
licities of the redeemed, (but of the torments of the 
damned. I am to speak to you tonight on the 
different symptoms of iSOul death, or of how a 
soul dies. 

It may be proper to notice the analogy between 
physical and spiritual death. The fact is, the 
soul has at least five senses, as has the body. For 
instance, we read, "0 taste and see that the Lord 
is good." Here we have souil-taste and soul-sight. 
Again : "'Incline your ear, hear and your soul shall 
live." Here we have soul hearing. 

We do not die physically, as a rule, until we 
have first paved the way, and through exposure, 
overwork or intemperance, $iven disease a foot- 
hold and a place to begin its deadly work. There 
is death all around us and we take in millions of 
disease germs every day, but if our bodies are 
perfectly healthy we are immune and able to kill 
or throw off these bacteria, so that they find no 
place to begin operation. The poet Heber says: 

130 



And Sayings. 131 

"Death rides on every passing breeze, 

And lurks in every flower; 
Each season has its own disease, 

Its peril every hour!" 

Scientists tell us that on a coin, and especially 
on paper money, there are millions of poisonous 
germs. They tell us that one fly is capable of 
carrying seven million of these deadly creatures. 
Why is it then that we do not die off like rats, with 
the bulbonic -plague? Simpily because we manage 
to keep Up enough vitality to resist and overcome 
these infinitesimal foes. But finally, we weaken, 
suiccumib and die. Let us illustrate: 

Here is a strong, healthy man, who has never 
had a sick day in his life. He cannot sympathize 
with those who are ill. But because of exposure 
or disregard to the laws of health, he begins to 
fail. The first symptom may be indigestion ; then 
dizziness ; then night sweats ; then he is unable to 
stay at 'his place of business all day ; then we see 
him redlining in the hammock on the front porch ; 
then he is in bed part of the day ; then he can sit 
up only long enough to have his bed made; then 
he cannot be up at all ; then he cannot feed him- 
self ; then he has sinking spells; and lastly, his 
loved ones gather around his bed to see him gasp 
Ihis last flbreath. Now it may have taken weeks 
or months for all this to have transpired, but final- 
ly the once healthy man expires. 

In like manner we now desire to notice the 
process of spiritual death. I will mention five 
stages in the death of the soul. 



132 Heart Searching Sermons 

I. Death to high and holy purposes. 

II. Death to the checks of the Spirit. 

III. Death to the voice of conscience. 

IV. Death to good influences. 
V. Death to the soul. 

I. Death to high and holy purposes. In or- 
der to follow the analogy, let us begin with a 
healthy soul. This will take in those in the amen 
corner, including preachers and Christian work- 
ers. When these who have been in the forefront 
of the /battle for years and have sacrificed much — 
when these begin to let down and slacken their 
pace, souil paralysis sets in. With additional 
cares, or perhaps feebleness of age, one may not 
(be able to be so active in the work of the Lord as 
in other days, but he need never lose the intense 
zeal and love for souls. If he cannot go so much 
as formerly, he can make up for it in some other 
way as in writing or holy intercession. It is so 
easy to feel that because one has been more or 
less successful, he can (be placed on the honorary 
list and still draw full pay. It is so easy for one to 
feel that since he has been so intensely zealous 
and selifnsaJcrlifijcing, he can afford to let up a little, 
and still he will be in advance of the generality of 
professed Christians. (brother, that was a sad 
moment when you came to this decision ; when you 
obtained the consent of your mind to become an 
ordinary, second-grade saint. That was a sad 
turning (point in your experience, when you were 
content to comtpare yourself with those around 
you ; when you (became satisfied with present at- 



And Sayings. 133 

tainiments. This was your first step downward, 
and unless you can catch your equilibrium, you 
will end in disgrace and despair. 

The history of many a man, who has fallen 
from a high pinnacle, can Ibe written in two words, 
arrested development. He ceased to get new rev- 
elations from the skies; he ceased to have long 
seasons of communion with God. He ceased to 
be scrupulously conscientious in money matters, 
keeping promises and other "little things.' ' 

This was his first step toward hell. The arch 
deceiver watched for years to see the aggressive 
saint come to this stand still. From this moment 
he became less fiery, less self-sacrificing and more 
self-indulgent. Now he is prepared to come down 
from 'that high plane upon which he formerly 
walked. Those holy ambitions and aspirations to 
be an "extraordinary .saint," as Whitefield prayed 
to be, no longer thrill his entire being. And now 
he is ready to take the second step hel'lward. 

II. Death to the checks of the Spirit. This 
is the second symptom of a dying soul. Up to 
this time the soul has been quick to heed the slight- 
est check of the Holy Spirit. But now as He 
begins 'to question the importance of "non-essen- 
tials/' Que fails to discern the gentle whispers and 
warnings of the Spirit. As the sensibilities be- 
come blunted and benumbed the soul fails to dis- 
tinguish the voice of the Spirit from other voices. 
The clamorings of the flesh now become more 
tyranniea 1 ! and demand attention. Little by little 
the sick soul weakens and loses its power of re- 



134 Heart Searching Sermons 

sistance. Oh, that such a one could once more 
arise, shake off the chloroform of hell and again 
be master of himself and his surrounding's ! Thank 
God, occasionally, such is the case. 

There are 'but few people who do not grieve 
the Holy Spirit more or less. Have you ever no- 
ticed while in conversation or when about to 
make a (hurried decision, how true the Spirit was 
to check you ? There was a time when you were 
quick to listen. There was a time when the Spirit 
got ahead of every one else and was first to call 
your attention to some unwise or inconsiderate 
thing ; but now you can reason away former con- 
victions and practice things which at one time 
would have shocked you. Friend, put on the 
brakes, for you are nearing the third mile post 
toward heil. 

III. Death to the voice of conscience. After 
the soul is so far paralyzed as to be insensible to 
the gentle checks of the Spirit, yet the thunder- 
ings of conscience may still be heard. Though 
the conscience may be seared, yea, smothered and 
stabbed until it is heard no more, yet there are 
times when it will revive, stand erect and come 
at one, compelling 'him to throw up both hands 
and tell the whole truth. 

I knew of such a case. It was at a camp meet- 
ing in Michigan. A preacher's wife, who had 
been professing holiness for years, was present 
and God cornered her. She turned deathly pale, 
twisted from one side to the other, then called 
her husband and told him that though she had 



And Sayings. 135 

lived with him for years and had professed all 
kinds of grace, she was a hypocrite and must now 
confess the sin of her life. She told him it would 
more than likely cost them every dollar they had, 
and all that their parents had ; and, in addition, 
she might be sent to the penitentiary for a long 
term of years. He answered her, , "Go ahead 
wife, tell it all, and I will stand by you." Then 
she be'gan and told him in substance the follow- 
ing: "When I was a young girl, another young 
woman and I kept a millinery store. We did well 
for a time, but finally began to fail in business, 
and saw we must lose everything. But our goods 
were insured, and rather than suffer the humil- 
iation of bankruptcy, we decided to get the in- 
surance whic'h ^amounted to more than we could 
get for our stock of goods. Then I, with my 
own wicked hand, one dark night, lighted the 
match that did the deed. The fire did not stop 
with our little building, but burned a number of 
others. Several insurance companies were in- 
volved, but without a question our claim was met 
in full. The people were all very sorry for us 
and never suspected for once that I was the guilty 
wretch. I have now made my confession, and a 
great, awful load is gone." 

There are many others who ought to belch 
out similar or worse things. They would do it 
if we had more holy unction and awful power in 
the pulpit. God help us ! 

Another instance of a stultified conscience : A 
few years ago, in Louisville, Kentucky, there lived 



136 f Heart Searching Sermons 

an old, hardened sinner. His will had never been 
broken when a child, and of course he became 
more incorrigible as he grew older. He fired 
Iboilens in a large factory and was so mean that 
no one could work with him. One cold day in 
Novemlber, a man who was on his way to Florida, 
stopped and asked for work. He was given the 
job of helping to fire boilers. After several days' 
work he and the did stoker had a quarrel and the 
stoker knocked him down with a poker. As he 
did not quickly arise, the old man examined him 
and found to his horror and surprise that the man 
was dead and his ibrains were oozing out upon the 
hearth. "What shall I do?" said he. "He is 
nothing but a tramp and will not 'be missed. I 
will throw him into the furnace and that will he 
the end of him." But conscience revived and got 
upon its feet and went after him. Every time 
he opened that furnace door, two awful eyes of 
fire were staring at him. Every time he threw 
in coal, there he saw balls of fire. Finally he 
could stand it no longer and asked for a furlough 
of a week, to go to Washington, D. C. But the 
dark thing followed him and he went on to New 
York, then up into Canada, then west to Seattle, 
Portland, San Francisco and down into Mexico. 
He remained absent four long years, until he 
thought he had about forgotten it. 

Then he decided to go back home to old Ken- 
tucky. One day his former (proprietor was sur- 
prised to see him walk into the office. "Well, well, 
old fellow, where have you (been? We thought 



And Sayings. 137 

you were to ibe gone one week, and ihere it is aibout 
four years." 

'"That is true," says he. *SL didn't treat you 
exactly right, but I never had seen much of the 
world and I gk>t a-going- and couldn't stop. Per- 
haps I can atone for it by asking for my old job 
back." 

"Yes, we have never ibeen alble to get any one 
to stidk to it like you. Report for duty tomorrow 
night." He did so, and determined as he walked 
into the boiler room, that "old thing shall not get 
hold <of me again." With one glance of the eye he 
noticed that everything looked familiar, and espe- 
cially that one furnace. In order to forace him- 
self up, .he fired aid the others first, but, sure 
enough, when he came to the dreaded one, there 
those awful eyes of fire were looking at him again. 
He slammed the door, only to have the thing re- 
peated every time he opened it. 

Finally, one day, as he was sleeping in his 
bunlk, his hefllper heard him mutter, "1 killed him 
with the poker land threw him into the furnace." 
The man ran upistairs and called the proprietor 
who, when he came, heard the same : "I 'killed him 
with the poker and threw him into the furnace." 
"That explains," declared the (proprietor, "winy 
the murdered man never called for his wages." 
The did stoker had made 'believe that the fellow 
was only a tramp, and after having worked sev- 
eral days, had gone on his way toward Florida. 
But tramlps, as well as other men, usually want 
alll that is coming to them. 



138 Heart Searching Sermons 

An officer was called, who gently awakened 
the sleeper, saying, "You are my prisoner." 

"What for, I pray you?" 

"For killing a man with a poker and throw- 
ing him into the furnace." 

"Oh!" he shrieked, "have you found me at 
last ! Take me ! ! Take me ! ! Hang me, or throw 
one into the furnace, for I have been in hell four 
long years!" 

Yes, sinner friend, iit is hard to get away from 
conscience, and yet some do. Instead of your glo- 
rying in the thought that you perpetrated some 
dark crime in the past without being found out, 
you should feel fearfully alarmed. For, remem- 
ber, the longer and more successfully you cover it 
up, the more it will pile up and gather "wrath 
against the day of wrath." It is to your interest 
to confess it, throw yourself upon the mercy of 
God and find refuge in the Rock of Ages. You 
can do so if you will. 

IV. Death to good influences. God has done 
and is still doing all in His power to head us off 
and turn our feet from the path of hell. One of 
the saddest things that can be said of man is 
that he has the ability to so harden himself that 
he becomes dead to all that is good. Nothing ap- 
peals to him except that which is sensual and 
devilish. All that a good God can ordain and set 
in motion for his salvation is to no avail. He 
is wide awake to money making or pleasure seek- 
ing, (but there is absolutely no response to the 
holy Sabbath, the prayer meeting, or the Bible. 



And Sayings. 139 

Yea, he can go farther and oppose family prayers, 
mock the people of God, and slander the servants 
of the Most High. 

It is an awful fact that there are men walking 
all around us, loved ones near us, perhaps sitting 
at our tables, who are as dead to God and as 
hopelessly lost as a demon who has been in hell 
thousands of years. What are these souls .doing? 
For what are they living? For what are they 
waiting? Simply living to help damn others and 
waiting to be damned themselves. Not because 
God wills it, but because they will to be damned 
and God cannot help it. God and every human 
agency have to stand back and let the doomed soul 
rush madly on, closing his eyes to the light, his 
ears to the truth, and splashing his way through 
the blood of Calvary's Victim in order to make 
sure of hell. 

V. Death of the soul. Oh, what a difficult task 
a soul has, to be damned. The pleadings of moth- 
er, the prayers of the saints, and the pangs of a 
dying Redeemer, all have to be met, spurned, and 
brushed aside, in order to make a bed in hell. 

Surely, 

"Men dig deep, 

And run themselves out of breath, 

To overtake death." 

Some have worked hard, early and late for 
many years, to successfully choke the voice of 
conscience, smother their convictions and resist 
the influences of the Holy Spirit. They have 
worked hard, and would not God be in their debt 



140 Heart Searching Sermons 

if He did not give them their hard earned wages ? 
"The wages of sin is death" — they can be earned. 
"But the gift of God is eternal life" — it is a 
free gift, without money and without price. Will 
you have it? It is yours for the asking. Decide 
now. 

On the Rocky Mountains there is a certain 
point called the "Continental Divide." Here stands 
a barn, the eaves of which slope east and west. 
Two friendly rain drops, falling upon the apex of 
the roof part never to meet again, one starting 
toward the Pacific and the other toward the At- 
lantic ocean. Likewise two persons come and sit 
together in this service. One decides for Christ 
and heaven, while the other chooses the world 
with its follies and riches. They may be two 
friends, a brother and sister, a husband and wife, 
but the moment they decide in their minds, one 
to go one way and the other another, that moment 
the destiny of the soul is fixed. Oh, the eternal 
joys or sorrows, the everlasting bliss or banish- 
ment, that hinges upon a simple choice! Which 
will it be? Oh, be careful! Three worlds are 
anxiously looking on and you cannot afford to 
make the wrong decision ! Choose now for Christ, 
and you will never be sorry! Heaven help you 
to act the way you will wish you had when the 
things of this earth are fading out of sight and 
eternity is becoming awfully real ! 

"There is a time, we know not when, 

A point we know not where, 
That marks the destiny of men, 

To glory or despair. 



And Sayings. 141 



"There is a line by us unseen, 

That crosses every path; 
The hidden boundary between 

God's patience and His wrath. 

"To pass that limit is to die; 

To die as if by stealth; 
It does not quench the beaming eye, 

Or pale the glow of health. 

"The conscience may be still at ease, 

The spirit light and gay. 
That which is pleasing still may please, 

And care be thrust away. 

"But on that forehead God hath set, 

Indelibly a mark; 
Unseen by man, for man, as yet 

Is blind and in the dark. 

"And yet the doomed man's path below, 
Like Eden may have bloomed; 

He did not, does not, will not know, 
Or feel that he is doomed. 

"He thinks of feels that all is well, 

And every fear is calmed; 
He lives, he does, he wakes in hell, 

Not only doomed — but damned. 

"Oh! where is this mysterious bourne, 
By which our path is crossed, 

Beyond which God Himself hath sworn, 
That he who goes is lost 

"How far may we go in sin? 

How long will God forbear? 
Where does hope end? And where begin 

The confines of despair? 

"An answer from the skies is sent: 

'Ye that from God depart! 
While it is called today, repent, 

And harden not your heart.' ' 



SERMON XI. 
Tribulation. 

Text: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be 
of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. 

The original meaning of tribulation is to flail, to 
thrash ; so that it would not change the meaning 
of the text if I were to read it thus: "In the 
world, ye shall have flailings, Ibut foe of good cheer, 
I have had mine, and will give you grace to bear 
yours." 

God is trying to get us to heaven as cheaply 
as possible. "He doth not afflict willingly nor 
grieve the children of men." Some natures re- 
quire more severity than others in order to wean 
them from the things of time and sense. Then, 
again, sometimes God permits more tribulation to 
come to some than to others, not so much because 
they need it, but because they are able to bear it, 
and thus He gives to the world, as in the case of 
Job, an example of patient endurance in the mid'st 
of suffering. 

The Scripture says, "Unto you it is given in 
the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, 
but to suffer for His sake." It is given. It is 
part of the program, part of the contract to have 
a certain amount of suffering. We need it; it 
mellows us ; it ripens us ; it broadens us. It brings 
us into a point of fellowship with our Lord. 

142 



And Sayings. 143 

Again we read, "That I may know Him and 
the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship 
of His sufferings, being made conformable unto 
His death." Phil. 3 :10. And again, "Though He 
were a son yet learned He obedience by the 
things Which He suffered." 

Human nature shrinks from suffering — 
shrinks from the cross. This is why Christ had 
to say to Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan/' be- 
cause when 'speaking of His crucifixion, Peter pro- 
tested and said, "Be it far from Thee." 

In the next verse Jesus said, "If any man will 
come after me let him deny himself and take up 
his cross [that which crucifies] and follow me." 

I do not know why some natures seem to de- 
mand more trials than others. Whether it is 
due to the fact that they have more tenacity and 
stronger soul fiber than others and hence can bear 
more ; or whether sin has played a greater havoc 
in wrecking and ruining them, and hence more 
sufferings and humiliations are necessary in or- 
der to get them through to heaven, I cannot say, 
but such is the case. 

In Isaiah 28 :27, 28, we read, "For the fitches 
are not threshed with a threshing instrument; 
neither is a cart wheel turned albout upon the cum- 
min ; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, 
and the cummin with a rod." 

"Bread corn is bruised ; because he [the plow- 
man] will not ever be threshing it." 

Here we have three kinds of grain ; one kind 
is quick to let go of its husk or shell and will do 



144 Heart Searching Sermons 

so with the stroke of a rod. Another kind holds 
on more tenaciously and needs to ibe beaten out 
with a staff, tout bread corn holds on still more 
tenaciously and has to be flailed out, or run over 
with a cart wheel. 

It is strange that the chaff or husk — the very 
thing that at one time was its life and protection, 
now becomes a hindrance to its use and must be 
flailed, or beaten off. In like manner God has 
to wean us and thrash us loose from the comforts 
and consolations of our early experience. 

There are three classes Who have to do with 
this thrashing or flailing business. 
I. Those who fail. 
II. Those who endure. 
III. Those who rejoice. 

I. The first class is mentioned in Matthew 
13 :21. Here Christ was giving the parable of the 
sower and leaves the awful impression that only 
one-fourth of those who receive the pure, una- 
dulterated truth, bring forth fruit to perfection. 
Another place we read that He will bring the 
"third part through the fire" and a remnant shall 
be saved. 

We hope that more than one-tfourth of those 
who hear the gospel will get to heaven, but ac- 
cording to these passages, only about one-rfourth 
who hear the truth preached in the Holy Ghost 
(not to say anything about the multitude who 
hear a milk and water gospel preached) will get 
an experience that will enable them to bring forth, 
"Some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." 



And Sayings. 145 

Christ distinctly says that the shallow ground 
hearer "received the seed/' and anon with joy re- 
ceived it, "Yet hath he not root in himself, but 
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or per- 
secution ariseth (because of the word, by and by, 
he is offended." 

It is a sad fact that the majority of people who 
hear the clean-cut truth preached, though they as- 
sent to it in their minds and many go farther and 
profess religion, yet there is no depth or stability 
of Character aibout them. When the (pressure 
comes — when misunderstandings come' — after the 
inspiration and enthusiasm of the revival has 
died down they become slack in their duties, are 
tempted with others, and because of these things 
fall out by the way. 

They say that they have backslidden, but the 
fact is, they never slid forward ; they were never 
genuinely converted — they took up with a tem- 
porary relief and for the time being rejoiced, 
perhaps shouted, perhaps submitted to all the 
rules of the people of God and mingled with them, 
embracing their tenets and views, but for lack of 
depth they (became unfruitful. 

II. The second class who have to do with 
tribulation are spoken of in Romans 12 :12. "Re- 
joicing in hope, patient in tribulation" 

In this class we find grace has taken a deeper 
root. We are told that they are "patient" in the 
midst of failings and misunderstandings. This 
is an experience worth having and, sad to say, but 
few attain to it. 



146 Heart Searching Sermons 

In Galatians 5:22, 23, are mentioned nine 
■graces of the Spirit. Three pertain to our rela- 
tionship to God, three to our relationship to oth- 
ers, and three to ourselves, but the most sadly 
lacking one is that of ' 'gentleness." How few 
people have this characteristic well developed in 
their lives. How few can bear contradictions and 
reproaches with patience, without the appear- 
ance, at least, of resentment; without giving 
a sarcastic reply when humiliated or misrepre- 
sented. 

Again we read, "He that ruleth his spirit is 
better than he that taketh a city." Yes, he who 
is able to rule his spirit and hold his tongue in 
times of pressure is better than he who can preach 
a big sermon, then get tried over a collection or a 
crying baby. Do you know that there are but 
few people, even among those who make great pro- 
fessions, who can foear to be told their faults and 
take it patiently ? The fact is you dare not speak 
to them, or you will immediately perceive in their 
conduct a disposition to retaliation. Unless you 
retract, or explain it all away the result will be 
a coolness toward you, or perhaps a loss of friend- 
ship. Now all of this is 'contrary to the Spirit of 
Jesus and is indicative of a defective experience, 
not in sanctifying grace, tout in saving grace. 

I wonder if this is not the reason why com- 
paratively few people get the fiery baptism with 
the Holy Ghost. Is it not because they do not live 
clearly justified long enough at one time to be 
proper candidates for the second work of grace? 



And Sayings. 147 

They give way in spirit, if not in word and con- 
duct, which means the forfeiture of the Divine 
favor. God 'bless you ! Don't you know that you 
need not scold around home, get red in the face 
and make it unpleasant for others in order to in- 
cur guilt and condemnation ? All you need to do 
is to give way in spirit and allow your heart to 
harbor ill-will and prejudice in order to lapse 
bade into a state of ill favor with God. 

This is the great weakness of the modern ho- 
liness movement. Too little is made of justifying 
grace. The standard is too low. People are al- 
lowed to ibeMeve that they can give way to mur- 
muring, complaining, faultfinding and backbit- 
ing, and then on top of all this, come forward and 
in one service seek and obtain the experience or 
holiness. It is false ! They simply get reinstat- 
ed and restored to their first love. 

The difference between justifying and sancti- 
fying grace is that in justification we get com- 
plete victory over everything ; over every temper 
and habit that formerly brought us into bondage. 
We are overcomers. Like the disciples before the 
day of Pentecost, not only the devils, but our own 
devilish tendencies are subject unto us because of 
the nature of Christ within. But in sanctifying 
grace, we not only have victory over everything, 
but we get complete deliverance from everything 
— from the inward stirrings of the carnal nature, 
from the unhallowed sensations that stir, though 
ibut for a moment, and are then subdued and 
brought into captivity. 



148 Heart Searching Sermons 

No soul can retain saving grace and refuse to 
waJik in every known ray of light. No soul can 
retain saving grace and ; be conscious of omitting 
or neglecting his duty. No soul can retain sav- 
ing grace and be conscious of doing something 
that displeases God. No soul can be justified who 
harbors envy and hatred toward another. A sis- 
ter once said sine knew she was saved, yet she 
refused to let God bless her in His own way, be- 
cause her demonstrations were so simple and hu- 
miliating. This was voluntary rebellion against 
God, and no soul can be justified who does it. 

In justification we get something we never had 
before — we get all the graces, of the Spirit, while 
in entire sanctification we get rid of that which 
we always had. <In justification we get a peace 
that passeth understanding; in entire sanctifica- 
tion we get a peace that passeth misunderstandr 
ing. We pass right by the things that formerly 
affected and annoyed us. 

And now, my dear hearers, how is it with you ? 
Do you have that grace that enables you to be pa- 
tient in tribulation? Grace that enables you 
to hold still and answer never -a word when in- 
sulted, abused and reflected upon? If so, you 
have great reason to rejoice, for you are a good 
candidate for a 'better experience. 

III. And this (brings us to the third class, viz., 
those spoken of in Romans 5 :S. "Not only so, but 
we glory in tribulation also/' This is the climax 
of Christian experience. He who has this expe- 
rience, he who can "rejoice evermore and in every- 



And Sayings. 149 

thing give thanks," yea, he who, as Wesley says, 
'"sees God in everything and cheerfully embraces 
it," he is well nigh omnipotent! Such a one 
is a puzzle and an enigma to the world and the 
devil. 

If you have this experience, you will not neces- 
sarily be exempt from sorrow and trouble of va- 
rious kinds, but you will have the ability, yea, the 
adaptability to turn it all to your account and the 
glory of God. It is this that confounds the 
skeptic and silences the guns of hell. 

How remarkable to see an individual who at 
one time went down under the artillery fire of crit- 
icism and misunderstanding, 'but who now is able, 
like a Jbeacon light, like an impregnable fortress, 
not only to patiently endure all that wicked men 
and devils can inflict and a merciful God permit, 
but Who now is able to glory and rejoice in the 
midst of the fiery furnace ! Yes, who like the 
three Hebrew children, harness up the flames of 
hate, affliction and tyranny, compelling them to 
simply 'burn off the bands that bound, thus defeat- 
ing the concerted schemes of earth and hell, and 
making the devil ashamed that he ever had any- 
thing to do with him. 

Man imight be likened to a bar of steel, worth 
in the rough, $5.00. But this same !bar of steel 
can be made into horseshoes and bring $10.00. 
When put through another process and made into 
knives it is worth $200.00. When toughened, beat- 
en and tempered and made into needles it is 
worth $6,000.00. Put it through another and se- 



150 Heart Searching Sermons 

verer process and make it into mainsprings, and 
now it is worth $200,000.00. But it reaches its 
climax when made into hair-springs and brings 
$2,000,000.00. Now it is worth sixty times the 
value of the same weight in gold. Think of it! 
A rough, old sinner kneels at the penitent form 
and after giving himself to Christ the wonderful 
transformation begins and finally he walks oif 
with God, keeping step as regularly as a regula- 
tor keeps time to the second. 0, brother, do not 
be content to be rated with horseshoes or knife 
blades. Insist on being your best for God. He 
sees wonderful resources and possibilities in you 
if you will only submit to the Divine process. Will 
you do so? 

"And not only so." This means an addition 
to what has already been said. And what has al- 
ready been said? We are told that "we have ac- 
cess by faith unto this grace wherein we stand." 
Standing grace is nothing more than justifying 
grace, though superficial teachers teach otherwise. 
Yea, in addition to this grace wherein we stand, 
and rejoice in hope of the g^lory of God, we glory 
in tribulation also. We outwit the devil. We 
defeat him at his own game, if you please. We 
rejoice, not because of ill happenings and provo- 
cations, 'but because all the chafimgs and question- 
ings against the Divine Providence are gone. 

When a young man I worked in the blacksmith 
shop. In case I desired to draw out a heavy piece 
of iron and make it into some useful implement, 
I took the large tongs and seizing the iron, plung- 



And Sayings. 151 

ed it into the furnace and after heating it to a 
white heat brought it out upon the anvil. Then 
calling to a helper I asked him to take the sledge- 
hammer and strike for me. With one hand 1 
held the iron and with the other used a small ham- 
mer. To an onlooker it might appear as though 
I was simply playing with the small hammer and 
making the helper do all the work. But no, he 
does not know where to strike only as the little 
hammer indicates the spot. The little hammer 
was also used to indicate when to stop striking, by 
a gentle tap upon the anvil. 

In like manner the Lord deals with us. In the 
first place we are too crude and crusty for Him 
to use, hence He is compelled to resort to the 
flailing process. First He plunges us into a fur- 
nace of affliction or misunderstanding. Next He 
calls upon the devil or some opposer to strike for 
Him. Of course they are always glad to accept 
for they have been waiting a long time for this 
opportunity. Our blessed Lord, however, always 
reserves the right to hold the tongs, and give the 
gentle tap the moment we have learned our les- 
son. Were it not that He keeps a steady hold on 
us we would never survive. Thank God the devil 
never gets the tongs. He cannot get through the 
hedge and touch a saint until he goes to head- 
quarters and gets permission. 

Again we read, "He will give grace and glory : 
no good thing will He withhold from them 
that walk 'Uprightly." There are many saints 
who have grace sufficient to keep patient under 



152 Heart Searching Sermons 

all circumstances, and this is remarkable, but God 
purposes to give not only grace, tout glory, and 
this is what is so sadly lacking among the gen- 
erality of professed Christians. It is the glory, 
the anointing, the holy unction, that makes- sin- 
ners feel aheap and little. Oh ! that you had more 
of it. If you 'had, more people would "run unto 
thee because of the Holy One of Israel, for He 
hath glorified thee." You would then mot only be 
a rebuke to worldlings and compromisers, but a 
living and glorious invitation to come to Jesus. 

Brother, sister, just in proportion as you lack 
this glory, you will be a hindrance to the cause 
you represent. Sinners will not give up their 
worldly pleasures until they see something in you 
that far eclipses and surpasses their transient 
joys. 

"Still nigh me, my Savior, stand, 
And guard in fierce temptation's hour; 
Hide in the hollow of Thy hand ; 

Show forth in me Thy saving power; 
Still be Thy arms my sure defence, 
Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence. 

"When darkness intercepts the skies, 
And sorrow's waves around me roll, 

And high the storms of trouble rise, 
And half o'erwhelm my sinking soul; 

My soul a sudden calm shall feel, 

And hear a whisper, 'Peace by still!' 

"Though in affliction's furnace tried, 
Unhurt on snares and death I'll tread; 

Though sin assail, and hell, thrown wide, 
Pour all its flames upon my head; 

Like Moses' bush I'll mount the higher, 

And flourish, unconsumed, in fire." 



SERMON XII. 
Be Filled With The Spirit. 

Text: Eph. 5:18: "And be not drunk with wine wherein 
is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." 

Sometimes preachers take a text and preach 
from it and get so far away from it that they 
never get back to it, but I wiant to take a text and 
preach to it as the Holy Spirit shall help me. 

There are four classes who have to do with the 
operations of the Holy Spirit. 

I. Those who Grieve the Spirit. 

II. Those who Quench the Spirit. 

III. Those who are Led by the Spirit. 

IV. Those ivho are Filled with the Spirit. 

I. We are to consider those who grieve the 
Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is a person and can be grieved 
like any other person. It is improper to speak 
of the Holy Spirit in the neutral gender as "it." 

He is the third person in the adorable Trinity, 
and the one with whom we have to do in this dis- 
pensation. 

We are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit 
whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemp- 
tion. 

Of course sinners and impenitent backsliders 
continually grieve Him. They grieve Him in 
everything they do and (according to Rev. Charles 
G. Finney) in everything they omit doing. They 

153 



154 Heart Searching Sermons 

do not aim at His glory in anything they do or 
refrain from doing. 

The quality of an action lies in the intention, 
and only as we aim at the glory of God directly 
or indirectly may we be said to be free from sin. 

"Whether therefore, ye eat, or drink, or what- 
soever ye do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Cor. 
10:31. 

Every act is a false act, every word is a false 
word — every thought is a false thought, only as 
the ultimate aim is the glory of God. The motive 
back of an action is greater than the action itself. 
When we get to the judgment, doubtless we shall 
be surprised to see that God placed a higher pre- 
mium on good thoughts than on good words — on 
right motives rather than on right actions. A 
man may perform a good action with a wrong or 
selfish motive. This is why we are told not to 
judge. God alone can see and analyze the inner 
intention back of a deed. This is the reason that 
the impenitent sinner will get no credit for any 
good deed performed, because his intention is not 
to glorify God. Of course it is much better to 
lead a moral life and perform deeds of kindness 
than not to do so, 'because of the influence and ex- 
ample set to others ; hut as far as merit, or reward 
is concerned, God only gives this when we aim at 
pleasing Him, and doing good to our fellow crea- 
tures without any thought of commendation or 
recompense. Now no one can do this without the 
grace of God. Do you not then see the need of a 
new heart, a new nature ? 



And Sayings. 155 

It is a fearful thought that sinners will not 
only be rewarded for the deeds done in the body, 
but for the wrong desires they have entertained, 
though never gratified. No thanks to an impen- 
itent soul that he did not fall into open sin and 
disgrace himself. It was not because he feared 
he would grieve God or incur His displeasure but 
because he lacked opportunity, or feared detection 
that he refrained from some gross immorality. 
Had he positively known that it would never be 
found out, or that he nor his family would ever 
be disgraced, his sinful desires and tendencies 
would have led him to have perpetrated the most 
atrocious crimes. 

God will never send a man to hell simply be- 
cause he "got drunk," or committed adultery, or 
murdered another in cold blood. The doing of 
these things did not make him wicked, but he did 
these things because he was already wicked at 
heart and consequently unfitted for heaven. 

Not only do sinners grieve the Holy Spirit, but 
many who profess to be followers of God. And 
how do professed Christians grieve Him? In 
various ways. I shall mention a few. 

(1) They grieve the Holy Spirit in conversa- 
tion. 

(2) Neglecting to redeem the time. 

(3) Wasting their money. 

(4) Causing the weak to stumble. 

(5) Lack of family government. 

1. In conversation. Most people talk entirely 
too much. Show me an individual who talks a 



156 Heart Searching Sermons 

great deal, one who is recognized as a good con- 
versationalist — I care not who he is, from a lay- 
man to a bishop, and I will show you a person 
who drifts into at least three hurtful, if not sinful 
practices: (1) That of evil speaking. (2) That 
of foolish conversation. (3) That of vain talking 
— drawing attention to self. And all this grieves 
the Holy Spirit. 

The Scripture says, "In the multitude of words 
there wanteth not sin. ,, 

Ag , ain, "God is in heaven and thou upon earth: 
therefore let thy words be few." 

Again, "That every idle [unnecessary] word 
that men shall speak, they ishall give an account 
thereof in the day of judgment." 

And again, Jesus said, "Let your communica- 
tion be yea, yea ; nay, nay ; for whatsoever is more 
than these cometh of evil." 

In view of all these passages, and many more 
that I could give, is it not apparent that those 
who talk a great deal, grieve the Holy Spirit? 

2. Most people grieve the Spirit in the way 
they fail to redeem the time. 

We are urged to redeem the time "because the 
days are evil." And again, we are told to gather 
up the "fragments that nothing be lost." Oh, the 
precious moments that are squandered in idle- 
ness ! Wesley said, "Never be unemployed, never 
be triflingly employed; he is idle who might be 
better employed." Another great writer, (I be- 
lieve Jeremy Taylor), said, "There never was an 
idle man, if he be a healthy man, who was strictly 



And Sayings. 157 

a virtuous man." Idleness opens the way for fool- 
ishness, flirting and sensuality. 

Any one who will hold himself to it can average 
one hour a day in reading. Counting rainy days 
and holidays, most people can do more than this, 
but he who can average about one hour a day will 
be able to read twenty pages thoughtfully, or 
eighteen large volumes in a year. If this be true, 
is it not clear that we are responsible for our igno- 
rance and inefficiency, all of which grieves the 
Holy Spirit? 

3. Many good people grieve the Spirit in the 
way they spend their money. They are wasteful, 
they are extravagant, they eat too much; after 
having a good meal, they must have an extra piece 
of pie, or dish of ice cream. Or, while walking 
along the street, if they scent peanuts, or popcorn, 
they must have some. "Oh, it's only a nickle," 
they say, but, nevertheless, it breeds extravagance 
and self-indulgence. 

It is all right to have our homes beautified, but 
we can do this without so much bric-a-brac, 
half-nude paintings and costly furnishings. Much 
of the money thus spent should have been paid on 
old debts, or where these do not exist, in helping 
the orphans and missionary cause. 

Just think of it! We, in the United States, 
spend annually, twenty-five million dollars for 
chewing gum, fifty millions for neckties, one hun- 
dred million for tea and coffee, another hundred 
million for feathers and flowers for hats, two hun- 
dred million for candy, two hundred and twenty- 



158 Heart Searching Sermons 

five million for suppers and excursions for secret 
societies, seven hundred and fifty million for the- 
aters, most of them nic'kle theaters at that! We 
spend nine hundred million for jewelry, twelve 
hundred million for tobacco, and about two billion 
for beer and whisky ! 

Of course, professed Christians are supposed 
to be free from these grosser things, but in the 
lesser expenditures, we have become a nation of 
spendthrifts. Do not these things grieve the 
Holy Spirit? 

4. Others grieve the Holy Spirit indirectly, 
when they grieve their weaker brethren. We 
read, "When ye sin against the 'brethren and 
wound their weak conscience, ye sin against 
Christ." Some things may not be sinful in them- 
selves, but the doing of them will cause some weak 
or conscientious soul to stumble. Then others 
who are not so conscientious will be encouraged to 
go a little further because of your wrong exam- 
ple. Oh, how much it means to be able to say 
with Paul, "If meat make my brother to offend I 
will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I 
make my brother to offend. " Some one seeing 
you at a ball game, or on a Sunday street-car, or 
wearing a certain article of dress, may be grieved, 
yea, may stumble, but he cannot stumble, if you 
are clear in all these matters. Remember then 
that when you set the wrong example and grieve 
others, wounding their weak conscience, God says, 
"Ye sin against Christ." 

5. And again, the Holy Spirit is grieved be- 



And Sayings. 159 

cause of lack of family government. It is alarm- 
ing the way children are allowed to grow up now- 
a-days. Little girls and boys pair off at the age 
of twelve and sometimes less. They know more 
deviltry at this age than did we when twenty-five. 
They are allowed to walk the streets, be out at late 
hours and hang around soda fountains and miser- 
able nickleodeons (nickle-low-downs). This is 
not all; the parents cannot help it; at least they 
think they cannot. 

Children are allowed to form habits which the 
parents know, or might know, must be broken, 
sooner or later. And any parent who allows this, 
allows that which may damn his child, soul and 
body forever. It once was the custom that pa- 
rents sent their children to bed for misbehavior, 
but now it is reversed and the children send their 
old folks to bed so they may flirt and have a big 
time in the parlor. 

We wonder why it is so hard to get our young 
people saved, many of them being harder to reach 
than harlots and drunkards. Is it not because 
their wills have never been subdued, nor broken? 
And does not all this grieve the Holy Spirit? I 
tell you it does! God is highly aggravated over 
these things. When professed Christians are 
consistent on all these lines, hell will tremble at 
their influence, and it will be easier to have last- 
ing, old-time revivals. 

II. Next, we are to notice those who Quench 
the Spirit. 

These are spoken of in 1 Thess. 5:19. These 



160 Heart Searching Sermons 

are those who are of a timid and reticent disposi- 
tion. They are slow to push out and assert their 
liberty, but on the other hand suppress their emo- 
tions. While we admire them more than the for- 
ward and bombastic, yet these go to the other ex- 
treme and retard the work of God. When they 
do move out under the inspiration of the Spirit, 
they are usually more effective than those who 
naturally have a great deal of push and self-reli- 
ance. 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit would have us re- 
spond with an "amen," or an uplifted hand, or 
seme other 'manifestation. We have known one 
unassuming saint, under the leadership of the 
Spirit, to electrify a whole congregation. Now, 
when such a soul quenches the Spirit, and begins 
to reason that others are more capable of doing 
things than he, the work of God suffers and he 
forfeits a great blessing. The result is, some one 
else tries to take his place in exhortation, or song, 
or tract distribution, or praying with a neighbor, 
but the effect is not so great and glorious as nad 
this soul not quenched the Spirit. 

The Scripture says, "Hold that fast which thou 
hast, that no man take thy crown." It is an aw- 
ful thing to make excuses and plead your igno- 
rance, or weakness when God declares that His 
"grace is 'sufficient.' ' Does not God know His 
business when He gives you a little task to per- 
form, and does He not feel insulted when you 
despise His leadings? See then, that from this 



And Sayings. 161 

time on, henceforth and forever, you "quench not 
the Spirit I" 

III. And now we come to another class — those 
who are Led by the Spirit. In Romans 8:14, we 
are told that "as many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, they are the sons of God." Oh, that we 
were always led by the Spirit! We would sing 
the right song at the right time. We would nei- 
ther sing it too high nor too low, too fast nor too 
slow. There is much in singing in the Spirit. 
The wrong song, sung in the wrong way, can kill 
a meeting, while the right song, sung in the Spirit 
will many times unlock an altar service, or set a 
meeting on fire. 

If we were always led by the Spirit, we would 
know just when to urge a soul to come to the pen- 
itent form and at other times, we would let him 
alone. There are times when the proper thing to 
do is to plead and almost pull one of his seat, when 
again, this would be entirely out of place. Oh, to 
have the ability not only to work for God, but to 
work with Him. We should study, not only op- 
portunities, but dispositions. Some people are 
so constituted that they need more or less atten* 
tion shown them, while others should be let alone. 

I know a case of a haughty young lady who was 
very irritable and sarcastic toward her mother. 
An arrow from the heavenly quiver pierced her 
and, unexpectedly to her mother, she came rush- 
ing to the altar. Immediately her mother sprang 
to her feet and started down the isle. I saw her 



162 Heart Searching Sermons. 

coming and headed her off saying, "Do not come 
now." 

But, she replied, "Brother Shelhamer, that is 
my daughter and I want to go and pray with her !" 

I answered. "I know it, but you will spoil the 
whole thing if you come now. Kneel down where 
you are until she calls for you." 

It was not long until the girl called out, "Where 
is mamma?" Now she was softened and ready 
to make some needed confessions. Oh, how easy 
it is for human sympathy and natural affection 
to get in the way of God. Perhaps this is why 
Wesley said that he was not sure but that natural 
affection was sin. No doubt he meant that 
we were so depraved that natural affection often 
hindered rather than helped in saving our loved 
ones. 

I have seen it the case many times, on a hot, 
sultry day, that some good meaning, but mistaken 
soul, got out of the Spirit and hindered rather 
than helped, by getting her arms around the neck 
of the penitent. Or, perhaps she began to clap 
her hands, or buzz and pour instructions into the 
ear of the seeker, when the proper thing would 
have been to keep still and let the penitent get 
his bearings, then pray his way through to God. 

I have known husbands and children to stay 
away from a good meeting, simply because a zeal- 
ous mother, yea, a godly woman, could not let them 
alone, but would pray for them in public, or go 
back into the congregation and plead with them 
prematurely. Their pride and rebellion could 



And Sayings. 163 

not stand it to be thus exposed, and because of it 
they would stay away. True, sometimes this rnay 
be the proper course to pursue, but, as a rule, I 
think it is a mistake for relatives to take on pub- 
licly over their loved ones. Oh, how much it 
means to keep out of the way of the Spirit and 
move only when He moves. 

Most people get out of the Spirit when it comes 
to answering an unkind letter. They get in a 
hurry, say too much and complicate, rather than 
correct the misunderstanding. You can set it 
down that a hurry spirit is generally from be- 
neath and of the devil. You would do well to 
commit to memory an important passage in Isaiah 
28:16, which says, "He that helieveth shall not 
make haste." He that believeth, shall not take 
things into his own hands and defend himself. 
He who believes God fully need not get in a hurry 
to get married, or go into business, or invest in 
some "get-rich-quick" scheme. He who believes 
God will not "do his duty" prematurely to some 
one Who is supposed to be "out of the way." It 
is better to wait God's time and until you are free 
from all agitation. 

God's people could learn some valuable lessons 
from unsaved men. When a drummer enters a 
merchant's place of business to sell him a bill of 
goods, if he sees that the merchant is hurried or 
not in a good humor, the drummer walks back and 
forth whistling, and sometimes passes on and calls 
later, for he knows it is to his interest to do so. 
But is that the way we do? No! We rush up 



164 Heart Searching Sermons 

and solicit men to give, or yield before their 
hearts are prepared to receive what we have to 
say. It pays to take time and wait for the oppor- 
tune moment. In this age of haste and hurry, it 
is good to frequently say to one's self, "He that 
believeth shall not make haste." 

But some one says, "Doth not the king's busi- 
ness require haste?" Yes, provided you are flee- 
ing "youthful lusts," or in a hurry to make resti- 
tution. It was David who made the above state- 
ment when he was fleeing from Saul. Whether 
he intended it or not, this was deception. Later, 
he confessed that he had "occasioned the death" 
of an entire "city of priests, men and women, 
children and sucklings." 1 Sam. chapters 21, 22. 
This was the result of his "haste," and likewise, 
when your "business requireth haste," remember 
you do more harm than good. 

While occasionally we find one who is too slow 
or always behind, yet the majority of souls get 
ahead of the Spirit. When He has His perfect 
way, he slows down those who are too fast and 
hurries up those who are too slow. God grant 
that we may be so adjusted to His leadings that 
we will make it easy for ourselves and easy for 
Him to get the most out of our lives. 

IV. Lastly, we come to those mentioned in the 
text, who are Filled with the Spirit. This is the 
mountain peak experience. Those who Grieve the 
Spirit are living at the base of the mountain, in 
the brush and quagmire of sin. Those who Quench 
the Spirit are living a little farther up. Those 



And Sayings. 165 

who are Led by the Spirit could be said to be half- 
way up. 

But now we come to those who are living on 
top of the "Delectable Mountains," those who are 
Filled and surcharged with the Holy Ghost. This 
should ibe the normal state of every Christian. 
God commands it, and what He commands He is 
willing and able to perform. If men and women 
can be possessed by the devil so as to have super- 
natural strength and wisdom, they can likewise be 
filled with and controlled 'by the Spirit. I have 
seen a frail woman so possessed and controlled by 
the devil that it required three strong men to hold 
iher. They said she was insane, but the fact was 
she was demon-possessed. This shows the im- 
perative need of every one having all his powers 
under the immediate supervision of the Spirit. 
You (are not safe a moment only as you are thus 
possessed, for the devil is ever watching and 
waiting to get control and should he do so, you 
would ibe surprised at the awful things you are 
capable of saying or doing. 

One can foe very active in the work of the Lord 
and not have the fulness of the Spirit. You can 
preach or publish sermons, write to, or edit holi- 
ness papers, run orphanages and rescue homes 
and not have what I am talking about. Oh, broth- 
er, sister, one mes'sage after receiving this Divine 
infusion, this unction from the Holy One, will 
accomplish more than a dozen without it. Do not 
try to make up for the lack of it with noise, hu- 
man effort or a multitude of words. You may 



166 Heart Searching Sermons 

thus deceive the ignorant and unwary, but to those 
who have received this mighty 'baptism, you will 
be like sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 

Have you ever been on a fast train when sud- 
denly it slowed down and stopped at a tank and 
coal-shute. Some one on board became impatient 
and exclaimed to the conductor, "What are you 
stopping here for? We are behind time now, 
and this will cause us to lose more time." But 
the conductor replied, "You don't know what you 
are talking about! We are not losing time; this 
is the way to make time." 

In like manner remember that there is a long 
run and a hard pull ahead, and it is to your inter- 
est to tarry "until ye be endued with power from 
on high." The disciples waited ten days for their 
baptism and you will not lose but rather gain 
time by waiting for the fulness of the Spirit. 



SERMON XIII. 
Pressing Through to Christ. 

Text: Luke 16:16. "The law and the prophets were until 
John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and 
every man presseth into it." 

There is another verse like unto this in Luke 
13 :24, which says, "Strive to enter in at the 
strait gate : for many, I say unto you, will seek to 
enter in, and shall not be able." 

This word strive in the original means ago- 
nize and the word strait, a difficult entrance. So 
that it would not do violence to this verse to say, 
"Agonize to enter in at the difficult gate, for many, 
I say unto you, will have a spasmodic, or emotion- 
al desire to enter and shall not be able." While 
God does not make the way to heaven unnecessar- 
ily hard, yet on the face of these texts we have 
enough proof to forever and everlastingly dis- 
count the so-called hand-shaking and card-signing 
revivals. 

In Mark 5 :25-34, we find an account of "a cer- 
tain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve 
years, 

"And had suffered many things of many phys- 
icians, and had spent all that she had, and was 
nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. 

"When she had heard of Jesus, came in the 
press behind, and touched His garment. 

"For, she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I 
shall be whole. 

167. 



168 Heart Searching Sermons 

"And straightway the fountain of her 'blood was 
dried up; and she felt in her body that she was 
healed of that plague." 

Here we find a poor, emaciated woman, doubt- 
less poorly clad, without a commanding appear- 
ance, or an influential friend to introduce her. She 
undertakes the stupendous task of pressing 
through the surging and motley crowd in order to 
touch Jesus. Perhaps we are safe in concluding 
that on this occasion there were thousands of peo- 
ple standing about the Healer. 

As she came to the outer circle, composed 
largely of the rabble and those who were follow- 
ing Him for the loaves and fishes, we see her try- 
ing to press through between some rough looking 
men, and upon inquiry as to what she intended to 
do, they denounced Christ as an imposter, telling 
her that it was utterly useless for her to undertake 
such a thing; that if she did succeed in reaching 
Him, He could not give her any permanent relief. 
But she disregarded their jeers and pressed her 
way through. 

Next we see her coming to a different strata of 
society. These believe in His divinity, but tell 
her that she had better wait until some more con- 
venient season; that she will be trampled under 
foot long before she reaches Him; that just the 
other day a man was trampled in the surging 
crowd. But she turned a deaf ear, brushed aside 
all discouragement and continued to press her 
way toward the center of the throng. 

At last she comes to the immediate bodyguard 



And Sayings. 169 

of Christ and undertakes to press in between 
Peter and John, when she is halted with the de- 
mand that she show her credentials certifying 
that she belonged to the "lost sheep of the house 
of Israel," for these alone have any claim upon 
Christ. 

Moreover, perhaps she is told that she must 
not interrupt the Master at this juncture for He 
is now clinching one of His forcible arguments 
against the Scribes and Pharisees. But she in- 
sists that she must touch Him and, with one last 
effort, reaches the goal and immediately receives 
new virtue and vitality. 

In like manner just as this woman against 
great odds, single handed, pressed her way 
through to Christ, so must you, sinner friend. But 
as she gloriously succeeded, so may you. Bless 
His Name! 

There are different circles around Christ — 
that is, there are people living at different dis- 
tances, just as was the case when He was upon 
earth. There was the five thousand circle, then 
the three thousand who followed Him for the 
loaves and fishes, and there were the five hundred 
who saw Him ascend ; then inside of this, another 
circle of one hundred and twenty, then another 
circle of seventy who went out, two by two; in- 
side of this there was another circle of the twelve 
chosen disciples, and still another circle of three, 
who had the privilege of seeing Him transfigured ; 
and yet another circle of one who lay with his 
head upon his Master's 'bosom. 



170 Heart Searching Sermons 

Now you can live at any distance you will 
from your Lord — either in the outer circle or in 
the inner circle of His will. 

I wish to notice some things that you may have 
to press through and brush aside in order to touch 
Christ. They may not he so visible as in the case 
of this woman, but they are as real and will re- 
quire all that is within you. Yea, you will need 
supernatural assistance in order to run the gaunt- 
let and make it through to Christ. And what are 
they? 

I. Satanic Pressure. 

II. Personal Sins. 

III. Public Opinion. 

IV. Religious Opinion. 

I. Satanic Pressure. 

Some people do not believe in a personal devil, 
but this is simply another proof that he exists, 
and that they are completely under his power, for 
let one but undertake to free himself from the 
thraldom of sin and he will immediately realize 
that there is an unseen power, independent of, 
and stronger than himself. 

The fact is, many people are devil-possessed 
nowadays, the same as when Christ was upon 
earth. We are so polite we do not like to say it, 
so we use such terms as "fits, spasms or tempora- 
ry insanity," but if Christ were here He would 
say, "she hath a devil/' yea, perhaps, six thousand 
of them, like the man in the tombs. 
Charles Wesley wrote : 



And Sayings. 171 

"Angels our march oppose, 

Who still in strength excel, 
Our secret, sworn, eternal foes, 

Countless, invisible; 
From thrones of glory driven, 

By flaming vengeance hurled, 
They throng the air, and darken heaven, 

Arid rule this lower world." 

This is a dark picture and reveals the fact that 
it is no child's play to press through such a throng 
and touch Christ. But there is a bright side to it : 

"But shall believers fear? 

But shall believers fly? 
Or, see the bloody cross appear, 

And all their powers defy? 
By all hell's hosts withstood, 

We all hell's hosts o'erthrow; 
And, conquering them thro' Jesus' blood, 

We on to conquer go." 

Perhaps we are safe in concluding that when 
Lucifer, the son of the morning, rebelled and was 
cast out of heaven, drawing the third part with 
him, there were more angels immediately turned 
into demons than all human beings who ever lived. 
Doubtless there were millions and billions of them, 
for remember, heaven was no small affair. 

Now this is what it means for a seeking soul 
to challenge in order to get through to Christ. 

The Scriptures speaks of different kinds of 
devils. 

1. The "lying spirit." This is the demon that 
causes people to lie and act deceitful. It seems 
they cannot help it. They are completely under 
his power. And even after they get saved — 
though they are no longer possessed, yet this evil 



172 Heart Searching Sermons 

spirit hovers around them and causes them to 
use great swelling words of exaggeration. 

2. Then there is another kind of a demon — the 
"dumb spirit." This is the demon that keeps 
some of you from lifting up your heads, hands 
or voices, and giving glory unto God. You are 
bound, you are cramped; you suppress your feel- 
ings ; you are not free. Sometimes you make an 
effort to assert your liberty, but you are power- 
less to rise above your surroundings. It is but 
the dumb spirit that has his influence over you. 
You must renounce him and pray your way 
through to Christ. 

3. Then there is still another kind of devil — 
the "unclean spirit" This is the demon of the 
Red Light district. This is the demon that has 
the audacity to place vile imaginations and evil 
suggestions before one when he is in the attitude 
of prayer, or while performing religious duties. 

This is the demon that takes pleasure in oper- 
ating upon little children and causes them to do 
vile things, even before they know enough to sin. 
Poor little thing's ! They are not responsible, for 
in many instances it has 'been handed down to 
them from their parents. Yea, they are not re- 
sponsible for their inherited tendencies, for in 
many instances they were not sought of the Lord 
as was Samuel, but are the mere product of lust. 
No wonder they do desperate things at an early 
age. The majority of them are half damned when 
they are born and fully damned before they are 
twenty years of age. Oh, how few people are fit 



And Sayings. 173 

to be parents! After we give our children the 
very best possible start, even then it will take 
the atonement to pull them through. Many are 
the men and women who commit suicide in their 
desperation to free themselves from the bondage 
of lust. Others do not go so far, but are irritable 
and melancholy, feeling that they were never 
wanted here. No doubt this is the case with 
many, and parents who hand down such a disposi- 
tion are largely responsible. 

4. The roaring devil. This is the devil that 
roars at people. He tells you that if you dare to 
make restitution it will break you up and you will 
die in the ipoor house. He roars at you and says 
if you make a certain confession to your wife or 
husband, or some other person, it will mean mur- 
der, or separation. He roars and says, if you 
take this plain, old-fashioned way to heaven your 
friends will go back on you and you will never get 
a companion. But, like Bunyan's Pilgrim, you 
must put your fingers into your ears and run right 
by this roaring devil crying, "Life, life, eternal 
lifer 

5. The Angel of Light. This demon does not 
live in the "Red Light" district, or frequent gamb- 
ling dens and race tracks, but lives on high spirit- 
ual altitudes, and attends holiness camp meetings. 
This is the pseudo-religious demon that leads well 
meaning souls into false impressions and strange 
doctrines. This is the devil that puffs people up 
and makes them think that they are extraordi- 
nary and above the average. 



174 Heart Searching Sermons 

Now, it means to face and overcome all these 

different influences for a soul to press through 

into the kingdom. Oh, what an undertaking — 

too great for man alone, but blessedly possible 

when Christ (beckons us on. 

"The deviL trembles when he sees, 
The weakest saint upon his knees." 

He is a conquered foe the moment a penitent 
soul speaks the name of Jesus. 

II. Personal Sins. 

Not only must we press through Satanic press- 
ure, but face and renounce our personal sins in 
order to touch Christ. They will loom up like 
mountains and seem to come toward us, frowning 
and threatening to crush us. But the seeking 
soul must not be dismayed, 'but set in to "beat 
them small as the dust." God says, "He that 
covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso 
confesseth and f orsaketh them shall have mercy." 

And again we read, "Behold the Lord's hand is 
not shortened, that it cannot save ; neither His ear 
heavy that it cannot hear : 

"But your iniquities have separated between 
you and your God, and your sins have hid His face 
from you, that He will not hear. 

"For your hands are defiled with blood and 
your fingers with iniquity ; your lips have spoken 
lies, your tongue hath un uttered perverseness." 
Isa. 59:1-3. 

Sometimes when a soul begins to desire God, 
his sinful propensities will suddenly awake as a 
sleeping lion, and he and his friends will be as- 



And Sayings. 175 

tonished that one could give way so suddenly to 
awful deeds of wickedness. 

You are safe in confessing everything that the 
Spirit ibrings to your memory, remembering that 
He will work at the other end of the line and 
soften hearts to forgive and receive anything on 
your part. I knew of such a case. A woman 
was seeking for two weeks without peace. At 
last I had a talk with her and found that several- 
years before, she had a quarrel with another 
woman because of undue intimacy with her hus- 
band. As they parted, each one threatened to 
use scalding water should the other ever darken 
her door. I asked her what about it, and she re- 
plied that the other woman was an awful charac- 
ter and would carry out her threat. But I in- 
sisted that she ought to go and see her and become 
reconciled. Whereupon she did so, and to her 
surprise, instead of being met with scalding wa- 
ter, the other woman caught her in her arms, beg- 
ging her forgiveness and saying, "I have been a 
most wretched woman for two weeks and felt like 
coming to see you, but thought that you would 
not receive me since I had done you such injury." 

The next night they both came to meeting and 
knelt at the penitent form and both were blessedly 
saved. The night following, the strange woman 
brought her husband and family and they all be- 
gan to seek salvation. The husband became a 
good class leader. The woman lived a good life 
for six months, when she stepped upon a nail, 
blood poison set in and she went to heaven. Oh, 



176 Heart Searching Sermons 

sinner friend, if you will but cooperate with God 
and confess every sin to the bottom, He will take 
the responsibility of softening hearts and in the 
end get glory even out of your sinful life. Your 
repentance will not only result in your own sal- 
vation, ibut that of those against whom you have 
sinned. I do not know how it can be done, but I 
do believe that if you will here and now stop pre- 
suming on the mercy of God, turn face about and 
renounce every wicked thing, though it may take 
every cent you have, I believe in the end you will 
be (better off and God will receive more glory than 
had you never been a sinner. God knows how to 
outwit sin and the devil and defeat them at their 
own game. 

III. Public Opinion. 

If you would get through to Christ, you must 
slap pulblic opinion in the face and make it step 
aside. 

And what is pulblic opinion? Nothing but the 
breath of the people and many times foul breath 
at that. Oh, the number of souls who are now in 
hell, while others are going there, because of fear 
of pulblic opinion. Friend, you are now in the 
midst of a giddy throng, tout some of these days 
you will be in a lonely room, deserted by your as- 
sociates and your ibeautiful face and form will be 
so emaciated that your own relatives will hardly 
be able to recognize you. What will you care then 
for the jeers or sneers of this old, changeable 
world ? 

On a southern battlefield lay a wounded sol- 



And Sayings. 177 

dier. He was taken to the 'hospital where he was 
to have a mangled limb amputated. His last re- 
quest, just before receiving the anesthetic, was, 
that if the surgeon saw that he could not undergo 
the operation, he wanted to die and be buried with 
his limb on. They administered the chloroform 
and began work. When the surgeon was half 
way through the bone he stopped a. moment to 
ask assistance of another doctor. Instantly the 
patient who was semi-conscious and was suffering 
worlds of agony, decided there was no hope. This 
was worse by far than the pain of sawing through 
the nerve. "Oh!" thought he to himself, "If I 
could only speak, or motion to go on, for I believe 
I can stand it, but they 'have given up hope and 
I must die." Presently the saw started again. 
What awful agony, yet what joy, for now he knew 
there was hope for his life. 

In like manner we must not spare, but go 
against ourselves and put to death every darling 
thing that might cause our ruin. 

Christ said, "'If thy foot offend thee, cut it off ; it 
is better for thee to enter halt into life, than hav- 
ing two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that 
never shall be quenched." Mark 9 :45. 

Better begin now to place the right estimate 
upon things 'and treat the world the way it will 
treat you when you are without friends, health, 
or money. Remember that people can laugh you 
to hell, but cannot laugh you out, and if you will 
make it through to heaven, you must die out here 
and now to public opinion. 



178 IHeart Searching Sermons 

IV. Religious Opinion. 

I sometimes think that false religious sentiment 
is more dangerous than worldly influences. Why ? 
Because of a false standard. It is harder to 
withstand and disregard compromise than that 
which makes no pretense to religion at all. 

Here is a 'conscientious soul who is under con- 
viction about such things as the using of tobacco, 
Sunday work, insurance in some secret society, 
or along some other line. He wants help and 
seeks advice from some religious sage. He is 
referred to an other brother who did those things 
and is now in 'glory. The result is, he gives up 
his convictions, settles down to live like the gen- 
erality of professed Christians, and in most cases 
dies, and wakes up in hell. 

Here is a conscientious sister who, like Frances 
E. Willard, gets under conviction about the wear- 
ing of gold and having her clothes made in ac- 
cordance with the latest fashion. She goes to 
some good sister, perhaps the preacher's wife, and 
the result is she gives up her convictions, pro- 
fesses a sickly type of religion and is now a great- 
er hindrance to vital godliness, than had she pro- 
fessed no religion at all. The churches are full 
of such cases. Great God, have mercy upon us. 

Say, friend, if religion is worth anything at all, 
it is worth everything, and you must make up 
your mind that if you would get through to Christ 
and heaven, you must run right by the opinions 
and examples of many professed Christians — yea, 



And Sayings. 179 

even -holiness professors, for the majority of them 
are living beneath their privileges. 

In the large saw mills of the lumber camps in 
North Michigan, they have huge (belts which carry 
the slabs and refuse from the planer some dis- 
tance to large furnaces where they are burned. 
One of these mills had closed down for the noon 
hour and the children had brought dinner pails to 
the workmen. 

While the head sawyer was eating, his little 
curly 'headed boy was playing about and finally 
clim'bed upon one of these large belts. Thinking 
he had gone home, his father 'blew the whistle and 
the engineer turned on the steam. The large fly 
wheel had gotten under way when the astonished 
parent saw his darling playing with the shavings 
on the belt and innocently smiling because of his 
nice ride. 

Horrified, the father shrieked out, ordering the 
engine stopped. But before the large drive wheel 
had come to a standstill, the tender little form had 
gone over into the awful furnace and not a trace 
of him could ever be found ! 

Precious soul, this is the way you are playing 
with the shavings of pleasure. You are enjoying 
life and having a nice ride, but oh ! each moment 
brings you nearer the awful end. The belt of 
time is carrying you on and on, and soon you will 
pass out of sight and be gone. Leap for thy life ! 
Christ will catch you in His arms of love ! ! 

Who then is ready to declare your intention of 
touching Jesus, let come what will? The call is 



180 Heart Searching Sermons 

for volunteers, for those who will swear to their 
own hurt and change not, rather than be turned 
aside from getting through to Christ! It may 
take more moral courage and mean more self-sac- 
rifice than to enlist as a soldier and face shells and 
cannon halls, but it will pay. One touch of Di- 
vine virtue, one pulsation of heavenly life, will 
more than pay for all it costs. 

Beloved, if you gain heaven, all is gained. One 
minute in glory will enatole you to forget all the 
jeers, sorrows and sufferings you ever endured 
while pressing up the heavenly way. But, oh! 
If you are so unfortunate as to miss heaven, all 
is missed. It had been good for you that you had 
never been born, or that you had died in infancy. 
One minute in hell will cause yon to forget all the 
joys of earth. What will it amount to that you 
were handsome; that you had a large circle of 
friends, a bank account, or rode around in Pull- 
mans and automdbiles. One moment in perdition, 
where the worm dieth not and the fire is not 
quenched, will cause you to forget and contemn 
all the pleasures and treasures of a fleeting life. 

Will you not arise from your fear and lethargy 
and now begin the 'battle of your life ? If others 
have fought their way through, you can also! 
Be not faithless but 'believing! Venture out! 
Christ beckons thee on! There is nothing to 
lose, tout everything to gain ! 

"While the water's being troubled, 

Haste, sinner, haste away; 
For your joy will then be double, 

Worth the price you'll have to pay. 



SERMON XIV. 
The Heavenly Vision. 

Text: "And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision: for the 
men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great 
quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide them- 
selves." Dan. 10:7. 

There is a great difference between seeing 
visions and being visionary. Many people are 
visionary. They can give advice and tell how 
things ought to be done. They criticise others, 
but they themselves do not make a blessed suc- 
cess in life. They try one method, then another ; 
they >go into one kind of business, then another ; 
they harp upon one line of Scripture, then anoth- 
er. They are always trying something new, or 
are about to do some wonderful thing ; tout like a 
meteor, they blaze very brilliantly for awhile, 
then become dim and finally go into oblivion. 
These are the visionary people. The world is full 
of them, hut there are only a few who, like Dan- 
iel, catch visions. 

I wish to draw some lessons from the life of 
this remarkable man. 

I. He had the courage to express and follow 
his convictions. 

II. He lived in advance of his generation. 

III. The Sequence. 

I. He had courage to express and folloiv 
his convictions. 

181 



182 Heart Searching Sermons 

In this day of insipidness and slackness, it is 
blessed to find a man of the Daniel type, who can 
stand up and face a frowning world without a 
quiver. Daniel dared to say No, and stand alone, 
though it meant the displeasure of a king. He 
stood the test, and later, stood before the king. 
Nearly every one would foe glad to be recognized 
and stand before some great personage. But 
there are very few who are willing and able to 
stand the tests necessary to prepare them for such 
occasions. 

It is the little things that make character and 
it is the crucial tests that reveal it. Long before 
a man is recognized as a rascal, he has become 
so at heart. And long (before a man has become 
a molder of men, he, himself, has to go through 
the testings and grindings. 

It is much easier to hehave nicely before a gaz- 
ing multitude than behind the 'scene in private, 
everyday life. 

The secret of Daniel's success was that at the 
very outset, when a young man, though a captive 
and a prisoner, he entered into a covenantal rela- 
tionship with God. We read that he "purposed 
in his heart that he would not defile himself with 
the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine 
which he drank." Where is there a young man 
today who would decline to dine with a king, eat- 
ing the same kind of meat and drinking the same 
kind of wine with the king's household? Where 
are the young men today, who, in order to lay 
themselves out for God and catch heavenly vis- 



And Sayings. 183 

ions, will voluntarily consent to live on a cheap 
and coarse diet? Most of us might consent to 
live on pulse, or split peas for a few meals, but to 
consecrate that this shall he our bill of fare for 
life, is quite another thing. 

The fact is, nature is contrary to grace. We 
feed and pamper the flesh in order to enjoy life, 
but we must mortify the deeds of the body, yea, 
as Paul said, ''Bring it under," which literally 
means, to beat it and bring it into subjection in 
order to mount up on wings to the "third heaven," 
and hear "unspeakable words." 

At this time Daniel was about ninety years of 
age and had been fasting and "mourning three 
full weeks" when the vision came. Perhaps more 
of us would catch heavenly visions if we, in like 
manner, had the ability to hold ourselves to long 
seasons of prayer and self-denia'l. 

The sad thing with many people is that they 
never had any well defined convictions. They 
are so easy going that they naturally are drawn 
into the current and follow the crowd. Such peo- 
ple are to be pitied rather than censured. 

But some of you belong to another class, for in 
the past you have had light and convictions along 
various lines, such as eating and drinking, tithing 
and giving, amusements, politics and plainness 
of dress. Yet you have gone back on these con- 
victions entirely, or have so toned down to please 
others, that it is hard to know on which side to 
place you. Some of you have backbones like cot- 
ton threads that can 'be wrapped around the fin- 



184 Heart Searching Sermons 

ger of public opinion, first one way, then another, 
just to suit convenience. . Whereas, you should 
have a ibaekbone like a crowbar that will neither 
bend forward nor lean backward. God pity the 
man, or the movement, or the school whose con- 
victions are so tame and insipid that they do not 
draw the ire and opposition from the old world. 
We are living in what is called a refined and in- 
telligent age, yet the spirit of the times is as an- 
tagonistic to the Sermon on the Mount, as when 
it was uttered 'by our Lord. 

Only three years ago we were endeavoring to 
follow the example and command of our Lord in 
preaching the gospel to every creature. We were 
singing and preaching on the streets of Lakeland, 
Florida, when we were taken and locked in a 
lousy old jail three times. Then to keep us from 
preaching from the jail window, we were further 
taken and locked in an inner cell, four by seven 
feet. Here three of us ibegan to sing, 

"Dare to be a Daniel, 

Dare to stand alone; 
Dare to have a purpose firm, 

Dare to make it known." 

Some of those on the outside who dared to sing 
with us were likewise arrested and locked up. 
The preachers of the town walked by, 'but were 
afraid to cry out against the outrage. Yes, they 
can stand up on Sunday morning and eulogize 
Daniel, hut they are too feeble to protest against 
the spirit of opposition toward those who embrace 
Daniel's principles. 



And Sayings. 185 

II. He lived in advance of his generation. 

Every one who does this is misunderstood and 
not appreciated until the next generation which 
is about forty years. Jesus said, "Woe unto you, 
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye 
build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the 
sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had 
been in the days of our fathers, we would not 
have been partakers with them in the blood of the 
prophets," Matt. 23 :29, 30. They lauded Moses 
and the prophets but now were ready to crucify 
the Son of God. 

It has been so ever since. Men have depreci- 
ated and in spirit stoned those who in their day 
have lived in advance of them. Later on their 
children caught up with this advanced life, gath- 
ered up the stones and built a monument to their 
memory. Brother, if you are willing and conse- 
crated to live such a life, a life so in advance of 
you cotemporaries that they will not be able to 
appreciate you or your standard until after you 
have been dead forty years — if you are willing 
to do this, come along, for we are going that same 
route. 

On a great battle-field, years ago, an armor 
bearer with his men were storming a fort on top 
of a high hill. The shot and shell were mowing 
them down, but the armor bearer was so intent 
on capturing the position that he became obliv- 
ious to the fact that his company were falling 
right and left. Suddenly he turned to see what 
had become of his regiment, and to his surprise 



186 Heart Searching Sermons 

saw them retreating and heard them call, "Bring 
that flag back." 

Did he do it? Nay, verily, but instead said, 
"Bring your -men up to the flag." The result was, 
they took new courage, rallied around him and 
captured the fort. 

In like manner, instead of taking a 'backward 
step, we should insist on rallying to the standard 
and living in advance of those around us. 

The devil knows just where to find some of you, 
for after gaining a victory you have crystallized 
around it and been satisfied with present attain- 
ments. But not so with others, for after cross- 
ing over into Canaan and capturing one walled 
city, then another, they have kept up an aggress- 
ive warfare until now they are spiritual giants in 
the "hill country," eating grapes and pomegran- 
ates and are victors over all they survey. It is 
amusing to see the devil waste ammunition on 
these hardly soldiers. After firing a volley and 
thinking he accomplished great things, he is cha- 
grined to hear from a mountain peak a shout, 
"Hallelujah!" 

"What! Is that you; I thought I blew you to 
atoms?" 

"Oh, no, you simply fired into an old camp 
where I rested one night last week. You are a 
week behind the times." 

Oh, brother, keep climbing, keep the devil 
guessing where you will be and what you will do 
next. You can so learn his tactics that he will 
be sorry he ever had anything to do with you. 



And Sayings. 187 

Daniel lived on a higher plane than those of his 
time. The same rapturous vision that delighted 
him, frightened the others. Was not that 
strange? But such is the case today. Let a saint 
get 'burdened and scream, or fall prostrate under 
the power of God, and most preachers and pro- 
fessors will become frightened and call for a doc- 
tor, or have the party removed. This shows how 
little they know about the mighty operations of 
the Holy Ghost. They can preach about Jesus 
and admire His teachings, tout will get frightened, 
or angry at the operations of the Holy Ghost. 
The fact is, they are living one dispensation toe- 
hind the times. They did the same when Christ 
was here. They glorified Abraham and stoned 
Stephen. 

Yes, Daniel alone saw the vision. Another 
passage says, ''Where there is no vision, the peo- 
ple perish." This is true. The death groans of 
a soul seeking holiness, or the paroxisms of a soul 
who is burdened for the lost, will frighten most 
evangelists, but this is music to one who knows 
the joyful sound. It is good to see a seeker get 
near the verge of despair, for then there is hope 
of his getting a lasting experience. Benjamin 
Pomeroy, an o-ld time Methodist preacher, said, 
"Victory comes on the heels of despair." 

In order to catch visions we must live on a high 
plane. When one is traveling on shipboard for 
days and nears land, those who are on the upper 
deck will always see land before those who are on 
the lower deck. This proves two things, viz. : 



188 Heart Searching Sermons 

that the world is round, and the advantage of 
living on a high plane. 

Visions are only for those who live in the heav- 
enlies. If you are content with anything less than 
this, God will give you over to your deadly do- 
ings. 'If you want to live a commonnplace life and 
be satisfied with earthly and sensual joys, then 
I have no message for you. But if you want to 
outstrip yourself and your sluggish brethren, then 
come along and we will climib the delectable moun- 
tains where God is pleased to reveal to us things 
unutteraJble and too glorious to be appreciated Tby 
the majority of men. 

III. The Sequence. 

Did it pay Daniel to Jay himself out and give 
himself up to a life of self-denial ? We generally 
get the idea that to take a pronounced stand for 
God means naulght but ignominy, contempt and 
reproach. While this may be the case on the part 
of those who scoff, yet with thinking people it is 
different. True, sometimes we lose a certain 
class of friends, but in return we get a better and 
more sulb'stantial class. This was the case with 
Daniel. After he stood the various tests, then 
he stood before the king and the king could not 
get along without his superior knowledge and 
wisdom. Instead of his being depreciated and 
set at naught, we are told at least three times that 
Danieil was a man "greatly 'beloved." Yes, shal- 
low and sentimental minds may ridicule and per- 
secute but if we have the martyr material in us 
and will behave wisely, sooner or later they will 



And Sayings. 189 

be convinced, confounded and sometimes convert- 
ed. 

Another reward that came to Daniel for his 
faithfulness, was his promotion. He was elevat- 
ed from' a captive and the dungeon life to the 
royal palace where he daily ministered to the king. 
All this was preceded by a courage that dared to 
follow his convictions. When the decree went 
forth that no one should pray to any other god 
save the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set 
up, Daniel did not do either of two absurd things ; 
first, lift his window a little higher and pray a 
little more loudly than before; nor, on the other 
hand, did he suppress and limit his daily devo- 
tions. But he opened his window toward Jeru- 
salem, as usual, and continued to kneel before his 
God. Oh, that men had the same courage and 
wisdom today! Courage that could neither be 
coaxed, nor frightened, bought nor sold! 

Another beautiful thing about Daniel was that 
when he did 'become popular he did not compro- 
mise. This was due to. his deep piety and devo- 
tion. One reason that men now-a-days get im- 
portant and top-heavy, when they are noticed a 
little, is (because they forget the covenant they en- 
tered into at the beginning. Or perhaps it would 
be better to say that they never fully purposed in 
their hearts, as did Daniel, to be true to their orig- 
inal principles and convictions. 

And now, who among you are ready to lay your- 
selves out for God that He may in return lay Him- 
self out for you ? 



190 Heart Searching Sermons 

We get what we live for. Give up a little and 
you get a little. Give up everything and you get 
everything. "For whosoever will save his life 
shall lose it; tout whosoever will lose his life for 
my sake, the same shall save it." Luke 9 :24. 



SERMON XV. 
More Than Conquerors. 

Text: "Nay, in all these things we are more than con- 
querors through him that loved us." Rom. 8:37. 

Man is born with the instinct of leadership and 
dominion. In this respect he is like his Maker. 
"For we are also His offspring." To be a victor, 
a conqueror, is the ambition of every life. The 
laborer, the merchant and the young lawyer all 
look forward to the time when they shall have 
gained for themselves rest, riches and respect. 
In short, they are striving to reach one common 
goal — in dependence. 

As soon as man climbs to one summit, he rests 
a moment, then becomes weary of his sphere and 
begins to climb to a higher point of vision. Most 
men are easily satisfied with what they call suc- 
cess, but occasionally we find one who has a broad 
and long vision and who insists not only on being 
a conqueror, but "more than a conqueror." 

In order to get the full meaning of the text, it 
will be necessary to refer to the 35th, 38th and 
39th verses, where we are told what the "all 
things" are, over which we are to be more than 
conquerors. 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or 
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

191 



192 Heart Searching Sermons 

"For I am persuaded that neither, death, nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
nor things present, nor things to come, 

"Nor height nor depth nor any other creature 
shall be aible to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Think of it ! Here is a list, half of which would 
put out of commission most of the holiness profes- 
sors in the land. But Paul defies everything, in- 
cluding "famine," "sword," "things present" and 
"things to come," and declares that nothing shall 
cause us to backslide. 

There are three common enemies to the "Love 
of Christ" on which we must not only declare 
war, but be "more than conquerors." They are, 

I. The World. 

II. The Flesh. 

III. The Devil. 

I. Through Christ we are to more than con- 
quer the world. "For whatsoever is born of God 
overcometh the world, even our faith." 

And again, "Greater is He that is in you than 
he that is in the world." We are to understand 
then, that he who is born of God, he who has 
Christ in him, is a constant victor over the world. 
We do not mean the material world with its nat- 
ural resources and comforts, for there is nothing 
sinful in these things. But we do refer to the 
spirit, customs, and fashions of those who inhabit 
the world. 

In 1 John 2:16, we get God's definition of the 



And Sayings. 193 

world. "For all that is in the world, the lust of 
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of 
life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 

Now, dear hearer, it is for you to say whether 
or not you have overcome and conquered the spirit 
of this age. Are you dead to the way the world 
transacts 'business and follows the customs there- 
of? Lest you think we are too radical, let me 
quote Mr. Finney, a Presbyterian, and perhaps 
the greatest revivalist the world has ever seen. 

"You are by no means to act on the same prin- 
ciples, nor from the same motives, nor pursue your 
object in the same manner that the world does, 
either in the pursuits of business or of fashion, or 
of politics. 

"The first reason why we are not to be conform- 
ed to this world in business is, that the principle 
of the world is that of supreme selfishness. 

"The Whole system recognizes only the 'love of 
self. Go through all ranks of business men, from 
the man who sells candy on the sidewalk at the 
corner of the street, to the greatest wholesale mer- 
chant or importer in the United States, and you 
will find that one maxim runs through the whole, 
to buy as cheap as you can, and sell as dear as 
you can, to look out for number one, and do al- 
ways, as far as the rule of honesty will allow, all 
that will advance your own interests, let what will 
become of the interest of others. 

"It is no more certain, that any infidel, or any 
profligate wretch, will go to hell, than that all such 
professing Christians will go there, who conform 



194 Heart Searching Sermons 

to the world. They have double guilt. They are 
sworn before God to a different course, and when 
they pursue the business principles of the world, 
they show that they are perjured wretches. 

"Show me a young convert, while his heart is 
warm, and the love of God glows out from his lips. 
What does he care for the world? Call up his 
attention to it, point him to its riches, its pleas- 
ures, or its honors, and try to engage him in their 
pursuit, and he loathes the thought. But let him 
now go into business and do business on the prin- 
ciples of the world one year, and you no longer 
find the love of God glowing in his heart ; for his 
religion has become the religion of conscience, dry, 
meager, uninfluential — anything but the glowing 
love of God, moving him to acts of benevolence. 

"This conformity to the world in business is one 
of the greatest stumbling-'blocks in the way of 
the conversion of sinners. 

"What do wicked men think, when they see pro- 
fessing Christians, with such professions on their 
lips, and pretending to believe what the Bible 
teaches, and yet driving after the world, as eager 
as anybody, making the best bargains and dealing 
as hard as the most worldly? What do they think? 
I can tell you what they say. They say, I do not 
see but these Christians do just as the rest of us 
do; they act on the same principles, look out as 
sharp for number one, drive as hard bargains, 
and get as high interest as anybody? 

"If professing Christians act on the same prin- 
ciples with worldly men, as the Lord liveth, they 



And Sayings. 195 

shall have the same reward. They are set clown 
in God's book of remembrance as black hypocrites, 
pretending to be the friends of God while they love 
the world. For whoso loveth the world is the 
enemy of God. 

"Why are Christians required not to follow the 
fashions of the world ? 

"Because it is directly at war with the spirit of 
the gospel, and is minding earthly things. 

"What is minding earthly things, if it is not to 
follow the fashions of the world, that like a tide 
are continually setting to and fro, and fluctuating 
in their forms, and keeping the world continually 
changing? 

"You often see professors of religion go to the 
extreme of fashion. Nothing will satisfy them 
that is not in the height of fashion. And a Chris- 
tian female dressmaker who is conscientiously op- 
posed to the following of fashions, cannot get her 
bread. She cannot get employment even among 
professing Christian ladies, unless she follows the 
fashions in all their countless changes. God 
knows it is so, and they must give up their busi- 
ness if their conscience will not permit them to 
follow the changes of fashion. 

"All this^ waste of money and time and thought, 
all this feeding and cherishing of vanity and the 
love of applause, the church sets her seal to, when 
she conforms to the world. 

"Nay, further, another reason is that in follow- 
ing the fashions of the world professing Chris- 
tians show that they do in fact love the world. 



196 Heart Searching Sermons 

"They show it by their conduct, just as the un- 
godly show it 'by the same conduct. As they act 
alike they give evidence that they are actuated by 
one principle, the love of fashion. 

"Conforming to the world in fashion, you show 
that you do not held yourself accountable to God 
for the manner in which you lay out money. 

"You practically disown your stewardship of 
the money that is in your possession. By laying 
out money to gratify your own vanity and lust, 
you take off the keen edge of that truth, which 
ought to cut that sinner in two, who is living to 
himself. 

"Now suppose a person loved God, and the souls 
of men, and the kingdom of Christ, does he need 
an express prohibition from God to prevent him 
from spending his money and his life in following 
the fashions? No, indeed, he will rather need a 
positive injunction to take what is needful for his 
own comfort and the support of his own life. 

"What does that gaudy ribbon and those orna- 
ments upon your dress say to every one who meets 
you? It makes the impression that you wish to 
be thought pretty. Take care! You might just 
as well write on your clothes: 'No truth in re- 
ligion.' It says, Give me dress, give me fashion, 
give me flattery and I am happy. The world un- 
derstands this testimony as you walk down the 
streets. You are living epistles known and read 
of all men. Only let Christians act consistently, 
and heaven will rejoice and hell will groan at their 
influence. But, oh, let them fill their ears with or- 



And Sayings. 197 

naments and their fingers with rings — let them 
put feathers in their hats, and clasps upon their 
arms, and heaven puts on the robes of mourning 
and hell holds a jubilee. 

"Christian parents are 'bound to refrain from 
putting ornaments on the dress of their children 
as much as on their own clothing. Those who in- 
dulge their children in superfluous ornaments com- 
mit the double sin of doing wrong themselves and 
teaching their children to do what God has posi- 
tively forbidden. 

"You tempt the church to follow the fashions. 
Where the principal members, the elders and lead- 
ers in the church, and their wives and families, 
are worldly in appearance, they drag the whole 
church along with them, and every one apes them 
as far as they can, down to the lowest servant. 
Only let a rich Christian lady come out to the 
house of God in full fashion, and the whole church 
are set agog to follow as far as they can, and it is 
a chance if they do not run in debt to do it. 

"Objection. 'Is it best for Christians to be sin- 
gular?' 

"Certainly ; Christians are bound to be singular. 
They are called to be a peculiar people, that is, a 
singular people, essentially different from the rest 
of mankind. To maintain that we are not to be 
singular, is the same as to maintain that we are 
to be conformed to the world. 'Be not singular,' 
that is, be like the world. In other words, 'Be 
ye conformed to the world.' This is the direct 
opposite to the command of God. 



198 Heart Searching Sermons 

"But the question now regards fashion, in dress, 
equipage and so on. And here I will confess 
that I was formerly myself in error. I believed, 
and I taught, that the best way for Christians to 
pursue, was to dress so as not to be noticed, to 
follow the fashions and changes so as not to ap- 
pear singular, and that nobody would be led to 
think of their 'being different from others in these 
particulars. But I have seen my error, and now 
wonder greatly at my former blindness. It is 
your duty to dress so plain as to show to the world, 
that you place no sort of reliance in the things of 
fashion, and set no value at all on them, but de- 
spise and neglect them altogether. But unless you 
are singular, unless you separate yourselves from 
the fashions of the world, you show plainly that 
you do value them. There is no way in which you 
can bear a proper testimony 'by your lives against 
the fashions of the world, 'but by dressing plain. 
I do not mean that you should study singularity, 
but that you should consult convenience and econ- 
omy, although it may be singular. 

"Objection : 'But if we dress plain, the attention 
of people will he taken with it.' 

"The reason of it is this, so few do it that it is 
a novelty, and everybody stares when they see a 
professing Christian so strict as to disregard the 
fashions. Let them all do it, and the only thing 
you show by it is that you are a Christian, and do 
not wish to he confounded with the ungodly. Would 
it not tell on the pride of the world, if all the 



And Sayings. 199 

Christians in it were united in bearing a practical 
testimony against its vain show? 

''Objection: 'What is the standard of dress? 
I do not see the use of your preaching, and laying 
down rules about plain dress, unless you give us a 
standard.' 

"This is a mighty stumbling block to many. 
But to my mind the matter is extremely simple. 
The whole can be comprised in two simple rules. 
One is — Be sure, in all your equipage and dress, 
and furniture, to show that you have no fellowship 
with the designs and principles of those who are 
aiming to set off themselves, and to gain the ap- 
plause of men. The other is — Let economy be 
first consulted, and then convenience. Follow 
Christian economy; that is, save all you can for 
Christ's service; and then, let things be as con- 
venient as Christian economy will admit. 

"Objection : 'We may be proud of a plain dress 
as well as of a fashionable dress. The Quakers 
are as proud as we are.' 

"So may any good thing be abused. But that 
is no reason why it should not be used, if it can 
be shown to be good. I put it back to the objector 
— Is that any reason why a Christian female, who 
fears God and loves the souls of men, should neg- 
lect the means which may make an impression that 
she is separated from the world, and pour con- 
tempt on the fashions of the ungodly, in which 
they are dancing their way to hell? 

"You profess that you want to have sinners con- 



200 r Heart Searching Sermons 

verted. But what avails it, if they sink right 
back again into conformity with the world? 

"Oh, if I had strength of body to go through the 
churches again, instead of preaching to convert 
sinners, I would preach to bring up the churches 
to the gospel standard of holy living. Of what use 
is it to convert sinners, and make them feel that 
there is something in religion, and when they go 
to trade with you, or meet you in the street, have 
you contradict it all, and tell them, hy your con- 
formity to the world, that there is nothing in it?" 

II. The Flesh. Here we come to another 
giant. Seldom has he 'been conquered, though 
many times he has played the oppossum and 
feigned innocence and submission, only to rise up 
later like a tyrant and demand gratifications on 
other lines. 

How many of you feel satisfied that you are 
more than a conqueror over your appetites? Do 
you only eat as Wesley said, "That kind and de- 
gree of food w T hich most conduces to health and 
comfort." How many times have you been over- 
come by some tempting food in order to please a 
friend? This is the same thing that cursed the 
children of Israel. They murmured, they pam- 
pered their appetites and God sent "leanness into 
their souls." Instead of being brought into bond- 
age along these lines we are to be victors and ov- 
ercomers. 

Who has not been brought into bondage by the 
power of some unbridled passion? Who has not 
seen the cruelty depicted upon the lip, or in the 



And Sayings, 201 

eye of one who was filled with the spirit of jeal- 
ousy? Wno has not seen the lustful glare in the 
eye as it glanced the second time at an exposed 
limb, or a suggestive picture? These are outward 
signs of a boiling volcano within. No wonder Job 
said he had made a covenant with his "eyes" that 
he should not "think upon a maid." If it was nec- 
essary in his day to guard the eyes and thoughts, 
how much more today when immodest women 
show as much as possible. And she who finds any 
inward satisfaction in knowing that men notice 
her form, proves that at heart she is an adulteress. 

My wife held a tent meeting in a certain town 
in Ohio. In her congregation sat a young lady 
who sang beautifully, was well dressed, but who 
always wore a veil over her face. The veil was 
so thick that no one could see through it. Her 
beautiful voice and form attracted my wife's at- 
tention, who tried to make her acquaintance but 
failed. 

One night the young lady presented herself at 
the pentitent form and was gloriously converted. 
The saints shouted aloud for joy. Some walked 
up and down the aisles with uplifted hands while 
others wept. My wife was coming up the aisle 
when she met the young lady directly under the 
bright gasoline light, which was so strong that it 
shone through the black veil and revealed the 
young lady's face. The sight was so awful that 
my wife fell upon her face in the straw and wept. 
Instead of her face resembling that of a human 
being, it was more like that of a swine. The 



202 Heart Searching Sermons 

poor girl was not responsible. Nevertheless her 
deformity had shut her out of society and the 
world had no place for her. Sad as was her case, 
who knows but that she will thank God to all eter- 
nity for her affliction? It may have been the 
means of her salvation. Had she had a beautiful 
face and a number of suitors she might have been 
damned. But since the world had nothing to of- 
fer her and she could get no comfort or consola- 
tion here below, she was driven to seek it from 
above. Many a person will attribute his eternal 
damnation to the fact that he had a little money 
and a large circle of admirers. These things tend 
to shut out God. 

Friend, is there some sad and crushing thing in 
your past? If so, remember God is able and will- 
ing to offset it with His Almighty Grace. He 
proposes to make you "more" than a conqueror 
over your blunders, appearance, and environ- 
ments in life. "According to your faith be it un- 
to you." 

III. The Devil. Here is our arch enemy. But 
God declares that we shall be "more than con- 
querors." Jesus Christ defeated the devil every 
time they met and the same Christ in us is "great- 
er than he that is in the world." The majority 
of mankind are "taken captive by him [the devil] 
at his will." Another class merely manage to hold 
their own. But those who have the ideal expe- 
rience are more than conquerors. Through grace 
they have overcome the customs and fashions of 
the world, the clamor and tendencies of the flesh, 



And Sayings, 203 

and all the devices and power of the devil. Yea, 
they have more than conquered, for they have a 
surplus of grace left on hand to distribute to 
others. In fact, these spiritual champions have 
more than they need for themselves and are anx- 
ious to divide the spoil among the weaker ones. 
Listen ! 

"If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and 
satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise 
in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon- 
day: 

"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and 
satisfy thy sotd in drought, and make fat thy 
bones: and thou shalt be like a tvatered garden, 
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 

"And they that shall be of thee shall 'build the 
old waste places: and thou shalt raise up the 
foundation of many generations; and thou shalt 
be called, The Repairer of the breach, The re- 
storer of paths to dwell in. Isa. 58:10, 11, 12. 

Here is a soul which is so well fed that he is 
more than satisfied. He is forever done with 
himself and his needs and now, like a magnani- 
mous philanthropist, takes delight in spending 
his millions upon those who are struggling to 
come to the top. 

Oh, you poor tempest-tossed soul, ever planning 
and praying for self! Always struggling to 
keep your head atoove the billows! Living in a 
little treadmill of cares and duties ! This is not 
the Divine plan ! There is something better for 



204 Heart Searching Sermons 

you ! There are victories and possibilities ahead 
of which you have never dreamed. 

Never rest then, until you overtake the world, 
the flesh and the devil and wrest from them, as 
did David, the lamh from the lion, and the sword 
from Goliath. Never rest until you retake all 
that was taken from you in the past. Like a 
mighty athlete, overtake your enemy, wrest from 
him the championship belt and wear it yourself. 

Christ will never be satisfied with you and you 
ought never to be satisfied with yourself until you 
triumph over and whip to a finish everything 
that once brought you into 'bondage and robbed 
you of your joy, or victory. "Thanks be to God, 
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Je- 
sus Christ." 



SERMON XVI. 
Desperation. 

Text: "And there were four leprous men at the en- 
tering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why 
sit we here until we die?" 2 Kings 7:3. 

The history surrounding the text is as follows : 
The Syrians had besieged Samaria until the city 
was on the point of starvation. Mothers boiled their 
own children in order to exist. The Eastern cities 
have lepers and other poor who depend upon the 
charity of the people for a living. But now Sama- 
ria was reduced to such poverty that these lepers 
could expect nothing, hence became desperate and 
said one to another, "Why sit we here until we die?" 

"If we say, We will enter into the city, then the 
famine is in the city and we shall die there: and 
if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore 
come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians : if 
they save us alive we shall live; and if they kill 
us, we shall but die." The result was that they 
found the tents of the Syrians empty except that 
they were full of provisions. For the Lord had 
made the host of the Syrians to hear a great noise 
of horses and chariots and they arose and fled in the 
twilight, leaving everything behind them. 

These leprous men were in dire straits and must 
do something and do it soon. They did four things : 

205 



206 Heart Searching Sermons 

I. They Decided. 

II. They Separated. 

III. They Ventured. 

IV. TTie?/ Received. 

I. TAe?/ decided to do something. To deliber- 
ately and positively make up one's mind is half the 
battle. Many a man has remained poor because he 
was afraid to invest; many a general has been de- 
feated because he was undecided ; and many a Chris- 
tian is weak because he lacks positiveness of mind. 

But it is not enough to have decision of charac- 
ter, for many who have, choose in the wrong direc- 
tion. Much depends upon a right decision. Take 
Lot for an example: When his herdsmen strove 
with Abram's herdmen, Abram said : "Let there be 
no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and be- 
tween my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be 
brethren. 

"Is not the whole land before thee ? separate thy- 
self, I pray thee, from me : if thou wilt take the left 
hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart 
to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Gen. 
13 :8, 9. 

Now notice the selfish and covetous streak in 
Lot. He "lifted his eyes and beheld all the plain 
of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, 
even as the garden of the Lord. 

"Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan * * 
and pitched his tent toward Sodom." 

Selfishness gets the better of him and now he 
takes his first step out of Divine order. Friend, 
when you do this you know not where you will land. 



And Sayings. 207 

In the next chapter we find him "in Sodom." A 
little later he "sat in the gate of Sodom." This sig- 
nified that he was now one of the leading men of the 
city, perhaps an alderman, or mayor. The sequence 
is that he lost his wife, all his property, and came 
near losing his own soul — all because of a wrong 
choice. Oh, the sad and wretched homes, the thou- 
sands in insane asylums and the dark list of sui- 
cides — all because of a hasty or wrong decision. 
But you toss your head and say that you are able to 
take care of yourself and that you will not wind up 
like these poor victims. Unsaved friend, you think 
you are wise and strong, but remember that others 
thought the same who are now hopelessly ruined. 
When you trust to your own choosing you will soon 
lose your equilibrium and no one can tell where you 
will land. 

II. They separated themselves. They bade 
good-bye to their old associates and environments. 
Perhaps there were other lepers as well as men of 
the city who argued that they had better let good 
enough alone ; that it was too risky to go over to the 
Syrian camp ; that at present they were comfortably 
fixed with a gunny sack for a roof, a bunk of straw 
for a bed and some smoky tin cans for cooking ves- 
sels. But these four leprous men insisted that they 
had made up their minds and were going. 

In like manner, it requires a resolute purpose 
to break away from old associates and start for 
heaven all alone if need be. Hear me! If you 
wait until your husband, or chum, or a crowd starts, 
you may never start. Those who start with crowds 



208 Heart Searching Sermons 

are short lived and do not amount to much. You 
must say, "I am going if I have to go alone ; yea, if 
I am turned out of house and home." 

And then after you are saved your friends may 
oppose your taking the plain way and casting your 
lot in with the holiness people. Perhaps your own 
pastor will pat you on the back and tell you that 
they need you to help hold the young people. He 
may try to prejudice you against the humble, de- 
spised people of God and tell you that your influence 
will be greater elsewhere. But remember, God's 
true people are always a separate and unpopular 
people and you must separate yourself from all 
wickedness and worldliness, whether it be in the 
world or among the professed people of God. 
"Wherefore come out from among them and be ye 
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean 
thing; and I will receive you." II Cor. 6:17. 

If you belong to a church that is not deeply spir- 
itual and in full sympathy with the doctrine of ho- 
liness, one of three things will occur. First, you 
will reform and revive the entire church — an im- 
possibility, (for history shows that as soon as a 
church begins to backslide she keeps going and 
never regains her original simplicity, purity and 
power) . Or, secondly, you will cool off and become 
more and more like unto them, so as to feel at home 
with them. Or, lastly, if you insist on being out and 
out for God you will feel the ecclesiastical toe and 
out you will go. Yes, God's route is the line of sep- 
aration. Dare you take it? 

III. They ventured to make the trip. Here 



And Sayings. 209 

was a case of desperation. The fact is starvation 
is sure to bring on desperation. God loves to see 
men get to the end of themselves, not to taunt their 
fears, but that they may give Him a chance to re- 
veal His supernatural workings. Men and move- 
ments depend upon their own efforts as long as pos- 
sible and God has to step aside and wait for years 
until they come to their extremity and this is His 
opportunity. 

These four leprous men not only came to a con- 
clusion to do something, then said good-by to their 
old filthy quarters, but they must now venture out 
and run the risk of life in order to save life. Like- 
wise, sinner friend, you must do something and do 
it now. It means eternal night to remain inactive. 
There is no time to parley. Many a man has lost 
his soul by hesitating until the Spirit suddenly left 
him, never to return. 

Sin is deceitful. It is like the glitter on a ra- 
zor that a child sees and cries for when a wise par- 
ent takes it away in order to give something better 
in its place. The child sees the glitter, but the par- 
ent sees the edge. Likewise, when God forbids a 
thing, it is not because He takes delight in being ar- 
bitrary, but because He wants to give something 
more satisfactory and enduring in its place. He is 
planning for your highest good. Why not then re- 
nounce the thing that makes you sad that He may 
make you glad? Why not give up the thing that 
weakens and shortens your life, in order to live 
long? Yea, why not exchange darkness for light, 
remorse for hope, and hell for heaven ? 



210 Heart Searching Sermons 

Venturing out for God is not like investing in 
a gambling scheme. In this no one has ever Deen 
betrayed, or dissatisfied with the bargain. There 
are no risks to run. You will live longer, healthier 
and happier by so doing. 

Is it not strange, yea, is it not a sign of insanity, 
the way sinners fight against their own interest? 
There is not a thing about Christianity that will 
militate against you. Your manners will be won- 
derfully improved; your citizenship will be more 
highly appreciated; in short, you will not be inca- 
pacitated to fill any honorable position in life. And 
in addition to all this you will be laying up treas- 
ures in heaven. Why not, then, here and now, ven- 
ture out. If you remain in the burning building 
you will perish. Leap for thy life ! Christ is 
waiting with outstretched arms to receive you! 

IV. They received. These leprous men not 
only saved themselves, but a whole city. They be- 
lieved, then received, while the lord on whose hand 
the king leaned doubted and was trodden under foot 
and died. Be careful how you question the mirac- 
ulous and supernatural. 

It is a lie from hell that tells you that if you 
give up this, or that pleasure you will not receive as 
much in return. God bless you, everything that 
the world offers is simply an imitation of the genu- 
ine which comes alone by way of the Throne. 

A boy stood on one side of a valley and calling 
to the other side, said, "Hello," and the answer 
came back, "Hello!" Again he spake and said, "I 
hate you." And the retort was, "I hate you." Once 



And Sayings. 211 

more he spoke, this time saying, "I love you," and 
the answer was the same. What was it? We call 
it Echo. It treats you as you treat it. Friend, 
have you ever heard the heavenly echo? Try it. 
If you say, "No, Lord," the answer is, "No." If 
you say, "I give up a little," the reply is, "I give you 
a little." But when you say, "I give up every- 
thing," the gracious reply is, "I give you every- 
thing." You cannot jew God down, for He has but 
one price on His goods. A full, unconditional sur- 
render will bring on an "abundant pardon." Who 
then is ready for the race to glory? "Let us lay 
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily 
beset us and let us run with patience the race that 
is set before us." Heb. 12:1. 

THE RESOLUTION. 

Come, humble sinner, in whose breast, 

A thousand thoughts revolve, 
Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed, 

And make this last resolve: 

I'll go to Jesus, though my sins 

Like mountains round me close: 
I know His courts, I'll enter in, 

Whatever may oppose. 

Prostrate, I'll lie before His throne, 

And there my sins confess; 
I'll tell Him I'm a wretch undone, 

Without His sovereign grace. 

Perhaps He will admit my plea, 

Perhaps will hear my prayer; 
But, if I perish, I will pray, 

And perish only there. 

I can but perish if I go; 

I am resolved to try, 
For if I stay away I know 

I must forever die. 

— E. Jones. 



SERMON XVII. 
Hindrances to Growth In Grace. 

Text: "Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye 
should not obey the truth?" Gal. 5:7. 

If I were to describe to you a land of health and 
wealth, a land so wonderful that those who reached 
it would never die, but would have all that heart 
could wish — if I were to describe such a land, every- 
one would be anxious to go; everybody's hopes 
would be up. 

But, if I went on to say that only a small per 
cent, of those who started out ever reached that 
place; that some were robbed and murdered along 
the way, others died of thirst while crossing the 
desert, many died of fever while going through the 
"Death Valley," still others froze to death, and some 
were destroyed of wild beasts; if, after I men- 
tioned all these perils, I dare say that every one's 
attention would be fixed upon the dangers by the 
way, as much as upon the prize itself. In like man- 
ner the pitfalls along the way to heaven, demand 
the pilgrim's attention as much as the thought of 
the glories at the end of the race. 

It is a sad fact that of the many who profess 
religion, only a few make a blessed success of grow- 
ing in grace. Statistics show that of those who go 
into business, ninety-five per cent, fail, three per 
cent, manage to make a good living, while only two 
per cent, become rich. We fear that about the 

212 



And Sayings. 213 

same ratio holds relative to growing in grace. And 
why is it that so many fail? We venture to con- 
sider several reasons: 

I. Lightness. 

II. Looseness. 

III. Laziness. 

IV. Loquacity. 

V. Like Other People. 

I. Lightness. This is a light age. Everything 
is built on the light order. Furniture, furnishings 
and farming implements are not so durable as 
formerly. 

The reading matter that is flooding the land is 
light and frothy — calculated to excite and startle, 
rather than to produce meditation and deep think- 
ing. Even much of the reading matter found in 
Sabbath -school libraries and book cases of so-called 
religious homes ought to be cleared out and made 
into a bon-fire. Parents should be as careful what 
their children read, as what they eat. If there must 
be a preference shown, let it be on the side of mor- 
als. It is simply alarming to note the kind of read- 
ing matter found upon the tables of many homes. 
Such parents will be held accountable for allowing 
poison to be placed before their children. They 
had as well mix poison in their food. All Metho- 
dists are required to avoid "singing those songs and 
reading those books which do not tend to the knowl- 
edge or love of God." — General Rules. 

The singing of the day is on the light order and 
tends to affect the feet and hands rather than the 



214 Heart Searching Sermons 

heart. Song book publishers have to get out a new 
book every year or so in order to keep up with the 
tide and make money. Many of the songs used in 
our camp meetings have the genuine rattle-te-bang, 
rag-time swing. No wonder that the converts un- 
der such singing are fickle and light. It reminds 
one of a circus or theatre to hear the music in some 
so-called holiness schools. And if a young person 
desires to graduate in music, he must take every- 
thing in the course in order to do so. They say 
they must have these waltzes and marches for fin- 
ger practice. Well, a good way for a girl to get 
finger practice is to wash dishes and learn to darn 
stockings. All this lightness in conversation, read- 
ing and singing, produces superficial characters and 
is a hindrance to growth in grace. 

Closely related to a spirit of lightness is the spir- 
it of irreverence. It is astonishing the irreverence 
that prevails among many good people. As an in- 
stance, professed Christians come into the house of 
God visiting, and as soon as the benediction is pro- 
nounced, the visiting commences again. Frequent- 
ly one can hear business matters discussed, some- 
times on the Lord's day. Children of Christian pa- 
rents not only sit in the back part of the house, but 
sit upright during prayer and the smaller ones are 
allowed to climb over the seats and turn the house 
of worship into a play house. Song books are mu- 
tilated and sometimes the Holy Bible is used to sit 
on or hold the window up. But no wonder that 
children act thus when preachers handle the Word 
of God roughly, act like clowns and use all kinds of 



And Sayings. 215 

slang. Some do not do this but are so wordy 
and given to so many "vain repetitions" that it is 
painful to hear them. The ancient Jews so revered 
Jehovah that when they wrote that awful and glo- 
rious name, they first stopped to wipe their pens. 
Oh, that we might get back to the good old days of 
the fear of the Lord and respect for sacred things. 

II. Looseness. Webster says looseness means, 
"Without order, or connection; negligent; careless. 
Dissolute; wanton; unchaste; unrestrained in be- 
havior." 

I wish to speak of two or three kinds of loose- 
ness. (1) Looseness of thought. Here is where 
sin begins, in allowing the thoughts to run loose 
and dwell upon unprofitable and unseemly things. 
Then it will not be long till these thoughts will har- 
ness up the other parts of the body to carry out 
their wishes. (2) Looseness of habit. There are 
thousands of people who have plenty of ability and 
opportunity, but who will never be heard of, simply 
because they are too aimless and loose in their hab- 
its. They know not how to improve the spare mo- 
ments in redeeming the time, doing and receiving 
good. (3) Looseness in life; especially in regard 
to those of the opposite sex, such as riding to and 
from meetings together. Many a good man has 
gone down in disgrace because he was not as care- 
ful as he should have been along this line. Some 
parents are very loose in letting good sized boys 
and girls dress and sleep in the same room. It is a 
disgrace to Christianity the way some parents have 
loos* Daintings and pictures on the wall, and sug- 



216 Heart Searching Sermons 

gestive reading matter on the center table. All 
these things are hindrances, directly or indirectly, to 
growth in grace. To say the least, these things 
have a tendency to produce fickleness and looseness 
of character, so that it makes it hard to become a 
symmetrical saint. 

III. Laziness. Some people are actually too 
lazy to grow in grace. They are not lazy in the 
sense of shirking responsibility ; they are indeed in- 
dustrious when it comes to money making, but their 
souls are sluggish and lazy so that they are not able 
to rise above themselves, or their surroundings. 
They give up to their feelings easily. If they want 
to eat, they eat; if they want to sleep, they sleep. 
The flesh has the mastery and must be gratified. 
They can sit and talk in a warm room, but cannot 
tear themselves away from a cozy fire or comforta- 
ble bed in order to pray. Thousands of people 
would have better health and better experiences if 
they but stirred themselves to rise early, take exer- 
cise and a morning bath, giving themselves time for 
prayer and searching of the scriptures. 

Laziness prepares the way for licentiousness. 
Show me an idle person and if he be healthy, I will 
show you one who is a slave to his fleshly desires. 
This is one reason why so many preachers disgrace 
themselves. Their backsliding started when they 
began to sit around, eat rich dinners, and visit with 
worldly-minded people. This is the way David back- 
slid. He was called to fight the battles of the Lord, 
but after the kingdom had been established in his 
hands and he felt increased in goods, he "sent Joab 



And Sayings. 217 

and his servants" to the battle while he "tarried 
still at Jerusalem." Here he lived in ease and lux- 
ury and "arose from off his bed," then "saw a wom- 
an washing herself." Next "he sent and inquired 
after the woman," and what followed is too dark to 
mention. Oh, take warning ! Idleness and self-in- 
dulgence have slain their thousands and you are not 
exempt. Remember, there are mighty men now 
in hell and others preparing themselves for that 
awful place, who were at one time more successful 
than any of us, but they were ruined because they 
trifled and ceased to practice rigid self-denial. 

IV. Loquacity. Talkativeness is a great hin- 
drance to growth in grace. In this busy and noisy 
age very few know much about the value of soli- 
tude and meditation. The early saints made much 
of this means of grace. Perhaps some of them may 
have gone too far, but we have swung to the other 
extreme and know little or nothing about long sea- 
sons of waiting on God. It is seldom now-a-days 
that one is found sitting all alone in deep medita- 
tion and holy contemplation. Even during the re- 
vival and camp meeting seasons most people rush 
to and from the services without spending much 
time in private devotion. The result is their pray- 
ers, testimonies and sermons have more gush and 
rattle than holy unction. How can one continue to 
give out with profit when he does not frequently 
tarry at the source of supply? It is impossible. 
We have known ministers to talk and visit, or read 
newspapers until it was almost time to go into the 
pulpit. Then they wondered why sinners did not 



218 'Heart Searching Sermons 

rush to the altar. Oh, that we might get back to 
the good old days when it would be a common thing 
to find people waiting upon the Lord for hours at a 
time. We would then see a depth and solemnity in 
public and family worship that we do not now have. 
The itching for news, love of company and fond- 
ness to be noticed are all hindrances to growth in 
grace; and instead of feeling cast down when you 
are not sought after, or put forward, you should 
take it all as from God and rejoice that you have 
another occasion to be more completely detached 
from the things of time and sense, and united to 
your Lord. 

V. Like Other People. Here is where most 
converts fail — when they become like other people. 
It is so easy to do this, yea, one may do so unawares. 
The tempter leads one to think that since he has 
ceased to quarrel and act contrary, he should seek 
to be agreeable and please others. In so doing he 
often smothers his convictions and grieves the Holy 
Spirit. 

The fact is when the grace of God comes into a 
heart, that moment a fierce conflict begins between 
that soul and the spirit of the world. If we could 
behold with angelic vision we would see a pitched 
battle of white-winged and black-winged angels 
with the storm center around the saved soul. As 
long as there is bitter opposition, the convert is on 
guard and ready to resist. But sometimes Satan 
and opposers use different tactics and suggest the 
following course: "Now, since you want to do 
right and reach as many others as possible, why not 



And Sayings, 219 

let up a little and not be so outspoken and extreme 
in your views. You will then have a greater influ- 
ence and win, instead of drive sensible people from 
you." Yes, this sounds well, but it is the same old 
argument which has benumbed and taken the keen 
edge off many a rich experience. 

What says the Word? "Love not the world, 
neither the things that are in the world. If any 
man love the world the love of the Father is not in 
him. 

"For all that is in this world, the lust of the 
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, 
is not of the Father but is of the world." 1 John 
2:15, 16. According to these passages and many 
more that could be given, is it not clear that there 
is positively no fellowship between one who is actu- 
ated by the love of God and those who are con- 
trolled by the spirit of the world? God's people 
are a "peculiar people, zealous of good works." If 
this means anything it means that they are to be 
unlike other people. Not that they should study to 
be singular, but the very fact that they are made 
partakers of the Divine nature means that they can 
not help being unlike the children of the devil. It 
means that their thoughts, conversation, dress and 
business methods are all unlike those of their near- 
est relatives who are not out and out for God. 

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not 
that the friendship of the world is enmity with 
God ? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the 
world is the enemy of God." Jas. 4:4. 

To illustrate : Suppose a loving husband leaves 



220 'Heart Searching Sermons 

home on an extended evangelistic trip, and after 
being away several months, returns home and no- 
tices that his wife is doing up her hair differently 
than when he left. After visiting a little, he ven- 
tures to ask why she does her hair up a new way, 
and she replies: 

"After you left, we were very lonesome, and 
Brother Jones came over occasionally to spend the 
evenings, and he suggested that I change, saying 
I looked better this way than the other." 

With astonishment he answers : "My dear wife, 
you break my heart ! It is immaterial to me which 
way you do up your hair; that is a little matter. 
Of course I always thought you looked so saintly 
and pilgrim-like with your hair parted in the mid- 
dle, but the thing that grieves me is that you are 
trying to please another man. Your affections are 
divided and this makes you an adulteress." 

In like manner your loving Lord has gone to 
prepare a mansion and is coming again. What will 
He say if He beholds you catering and compromis- 
ing a little here and a little there, to please the silly 
old world ? You need not go into open sin in order to 
have fellowship, and be in harmony with the spirit 
of the world. Little things show which way the 
wind is blowing more readily than do large objects. 
God forbid that you should begin, or follow sl de- 
parture from simplicity, that in the end might 
cause the ruin of others. Would it not be too bad 
if at the judgment, condemned souls should upbraid 
you for looking, or acting like the world? 



SERMON XVIII. 
Peter's Downfall and Restoration. 

Text: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art 
the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matt. 16:16. 

"But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know 
not this man of whom ye speak." Mark 14:71. 

Here are two widely different statements from 
the same lips. A fearful change evidently trans- 
pired between the first and second utterances. When 
a man starts to backslide he generally loses all 
grace before he fully wakes up and repents. A man 
falling out of the top of a tree may recover him- 
self and catch a limb on the way down, but, as a 
rule, he keeps falling until he strikes terra firma. 

The Bible is a faithful history. It records the 
good deeds of men, that we may pattern after them. 
It also records their failures and sins that we may 
take warning. This is one reason why we claim 
that the Book is inspired. Had men conspired to 
produce such a book they would have eliminated 
everything that reflected upon themselves, especial- 
ly after they had repented. But God said it should 
be reported just as it occurred. 

When Peter made the first statement he was in 
a good, spiritual condition and on one of the top 
rounds of the ladder. He was living so near heav- 
en that he could get clear revelations as to the Di- 
vinity of Christ. Only a few live so close to God 
that they receive new thoughts and revelations 
ahead of their contemporaries. 

221 



222 Heart Searching Sermons 

While some blasphemed and others doubted, 
saying he was John the Baptist, Elias, Jeremiah, or 
one of the prophets, Peter declared, 'Thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." The reply was, 
"Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and 
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father 
which is in heaven." Peter was living on a higher 
plane than the Sanhedrin and perhaps beyond the 
other disciples. But the devil likes a shining mark, 
and no doubt planned more for the overthrow of 
Peter than any or all of the other disciples com- 
bined. We know not why it is so, but it seems that 
men of great genius, men, who can do extraordi- 
nary things and stir a while city, can likewise turn 
around and become so inconsistent that they are a 
great disappointment to their fondest admirers. 
Peter was such a man. Let us study the steps to 
his downfall, and then, thank God, to his reclama- 
tion. 

In the fourteenth chapter of Mark, we get a pen 
picture, not only of the backsliding of an apostle, 
but the successive steps of all others who have wan- 
dered away from their Lord. 

1. Self -Sufficiency. Jesus had just said, "All ye 
shall be offended because of me this night." "But 
Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be offended 
yet will not 7." Verse 29. This is the first symp- 
tom of heart-backsliding — when one begins to feel 
self-sufficient; when one begins to notice his 
achievements and take an inward satisfaction in 
comparing himself with others. This is what Peter 
did. Then when Christ, in the next verse told him, 



And Sayings. 223 

'This day, even in this night, before the cock crow 
twice, thou shalt deny me thrice," Peter became still 
more self-confident, and flatly contradicting his 
Lord, "spake the more vehemently, // / should die 
with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise." Oh, 
that he then and there had humbled himself and fal- 
len at the feet of Jesus, no doubt special grace 
would have been given him. 

A spirit of boasting and self-vindication have 
paved the way to many a man's ruin. When one is 
charged with anything, though he may feel confi- 
dent that he is clear in the matter, it is not best to 
quickly resent it and defend himself. Ponder it 
well. There may be a semblance of truth in it, 
and, if so, you cannot afford to miss the warning. 

2. Sensibilities Benumbed. "And He cometh 
and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter, Si- 
mon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one 
hour?" Verse 37. All the disciples were asleep, 
but the gentle reproof was to Peter, doubtless be- 
cause he had been foremost in declaring his integ- 
rity. Now his sensibilities are blunted and he be- 
comes oblivious to everything in view of a present 
enjoyment — sleep. It is the same with every one 
today, who breaks step with God. One of the first 
signs is the yielding to the clamors of the flesh, so 
that it is easy to reason away former convictions 
and sleep over things that at one time would have 
brought on despair. It is a bad sign when a hus- 
band or wife can say cutting things, or act sullen, 
then go to bed and sleep soundly without a word of 
apology or confession. It is a sign that the con- 



224 Heart Searching Sermons 

science is no longer tender and the heart no longer 
sympathetic and responsive to the feelings of oth- 
ers. In short, it is a sign of a backslidden state. 

3. Self-Defence. "And one of them that stood 
by drew a sword and smote a servant of the high 
priest, and cut off his ear." Verse 47. Now the 
dear man becomes vindictive and tries to recover 
himself from the poor impression he had given be- 
cause of his sleep. Accordingly he whips out a 
sword and cuts off an ear — a real ear. No doubt it 
was painful, but not nearly so painful as the ears 
some of us have taken off. For instance: an op- 
poser, or delinquent member drops into a service. 
At this a zealous brother feels especially commis- 
sioned to do his "duty" — do some amputating. He 
prays, testifies, or preaches right at the "compro- 
miser" and so mutilates his hearing that should he 
ever return he is unable to hear, or get any good 
from the one who whacked and banged away at him 
out of the Spirit, 

Self-defence is a poor weapon, and he who uses 
it is injured more than the other party. Brother, 
if you insist on defending yourself God will step 
aside and give you the job and you will have a hard 
task before you. But if you refuse to stand up for 
your "rights," then your Advocate will plead your 
cause and do so much better than you. "Commit 
thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in Him ; and He 
shall bring it to pass." Ps. 37:5. 

4. Cowardice. "And Peter followed Him afar 
off, even into the palace of the high priest; and he 
sat with the servants and warmed himself at the 



And Sayings. 225 

fire." V. 54. Here we see the fruit of retalia- 
tion. It always reacts upon the one who thinks he 
has to defend himself, or the cause he represents. 

It does not pay to follow "afar off." Even the 
world despises half-heartedness. If it is worth any- 
thing, it is worth everything to be out and out for 
God. Since we have the best thing outside of heav- 
en we should not be ashamed to let our convictions 
be known. If your relatives come to visit you or 
you go to see them, do not follow your Lord afar 
off, but let it be known at the outset that you be- 
lieve in private and family prayer. If you meet 
your old associates and they begin their foolish- 
ness, or entice you to sin, do not be passive, or 
evasive, but by word and act give them to under- 
stand that you are done with everything that is 
questionable. Though they may persecute, yet 
down in their hearts they will admire your courage. 
Never think for a moment that you will win them 
more quickly by letting down and being less out- 
spoken. Like John, keep near to your Lord and you 
will make it easier for yourself and others. 

"He warmed himself at the fire." Think of it ! 
Here is a disciple, getting comfort from a fire kin- 
dled by those who were clamoring for the life of 
his Lord. But let us not be too severe on him un- 
til we first see if we have done better than he. 

It means much to be so dead to the world with 
its pleasures and riches that we can spurn its offers 
and walk off saying, "There is not a thing in this 
old world I want." Brother, when you can truth- 
fully say this, you will not get so mixed with the 



226 Heart Searching Sermons 

crowd and feel so at home with worldlings (as did 
Peter) that you will lose your identity. You will 
not put on just enough to take off the reproach of 
plainness. Though you are not entirely like the 
world yet in some respects there is a point of fel- 
lowship — so that you do not feel odd and peculiar 
among compromisers. This is nothing more or less 
than warming yourself — borrowing some prestige 
or comfort from the world. 

5. Beneath. "And as Peter was beneath in the 
palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high 
priest. 

"And when she saw Peter warming himself, she 
looked upon him and said, and thou also wast with 
Jesus of Nazareth." Verses 66, 67. Now he has 
lost his hold completely and is at the foot of the lad- 
der. Alas, but he was not the only one who let 
down little by little until he was beneath and the 
spirit of the world was on top. When this is the 
case a man becomes weak before his enemies. The 
devil works long and hard for this crucial point; 
yea, no doubt he actually withholds certain tempta- 
tions until his victim has prepared the way and 
come to the opportune moment of yielding. 

It seems strange that more men backslide over 
women than their own sex. It ought not to be so 
since she is supposed to be a helper rather than a 
hinderer. Adam, Samson, David, Solomon, Peter 
and a host of others since their day were too weak 
to withstand the fairer sex. 

6. He denied. "But he denied, saying I know 
not, neither understand I what thou sayest." V. 68. 



And Sayings. 227 

Oh, had he only had the courage to have acknowl- 
edged it — an honorable thing to do. Many a man 
would recover himself from a total shipwreck if 
he could only confess and acknowledge some things. 
But pride of opinion and self-will are too strong. 
He vainly imagines that it is beneath his dignity to 
make a concession. The result is that down the 
road a little farther we find a big FAILURE. 

When a man gives way to one act of deception 
he generally has to go farther in order to cover it 
up. The better plan is to frankly own up and let 
it appear just as it is. This will not weaken, but 
strengthen character. It requires no brains and lit- 
tle grace to hold out for an opinion, but God is 
pleased to overrule the blunders of one who can 
humble himself. It was said even of wicked Ahab, 
"Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before 
me? Because he humbleth himself before me, I 
will not bring the evil in his days ; but in his son's 
days will I bring the evil upon his house." 1 King 
21 :29. 

7. Blasphemy. "But he began to curse and to 
swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye 
speak." V. 71. And now he is beyond all restraint. 
He not only gives way to lying, but to cursing as 
well. He could go no farther except to commit 
murder, or suicide. A sad picture! One who 
walked upon the water, cast out devils and saw 
his Lord transfigured — now shorn of his strength 
and cowering in the dark before a few "maids" and 
"servants." "How are the mighty fallen !" It re- 
mained for a chicken to preach him under convic- 



228 Heart Searching Sermons 

tion. God can use roosters better than some preach- 
ers to start a revival. 

His Restoration. 

But there is another side to the picture. Some 
men go down and never rise again, but Peter was 
too big to stay down. Some men so sin against con- 
science and nature that when they finally collapse, 
there is nothing left from which to build a strong, 
symmetrical character. They may repent and be 
saved, but their influence and forcefulness will 
never be as though they had not deliberately sinned 
against great light. 

Peter's sin was unpremeditated, and not the 
outburst of cherished or pent-up animosity. The 
moment he came to himself, instead of excusing his 
act he bitterly repented. You may know that his 
restoration was complete, or he would not have 
been chosen as the mouthpiece on the day of Pente- 
cost, when, under his fiery message about three 
thousand souls were saved. His repentance em- 
braced at least three things: 

1. "He thought thereon" His reclamation was 
not a spasmodic handshake, but the result of delib- 
eration and anguish of mind. 

2. "He went out" He broke company with all 
Christ-rejectors. He chose to be alone and in the 
cold, rather than enjoy earthly comforts and be un- 
der condemnation. 

3. He "tvept bitterly." No dry eyes and card 
signing for him. Men do not like to show emotion, 
but Peter so felt the heinousness of his sin that the 
only way he could find relief was to weep bitterly. 



And Sayings. 229 

Oh, brother, are you here and almost on the 
verge of despair as you view the dark past? If 
so, remember Peter. The very fact that you can 
weep, implies that there is hope. If you will but 
retrace your steps as thoroughly as did Peter, you 
may be as fully restored as was he. 

Just a word relative to the unpardonable sin. 
Many super-conscientious souls are harassed over 
this subject. Such souls could get help from Peter's 
sad experience. Great as was his offence, he did 
not blaspheme against the Holy Ghost. They 
who commit this awful sin are seldom if ever 
alarmed over the fact. The same with those who 
have crossed the dead line and grieved the Spirit 
away for the last time. They become hard and 
feelingless though they are aware that they are 
doomed. Unconverted men can sin away their day 
of grace when the Spirit leaves them forever; but 
none can commit the unpardonable sin except those 
who having "tasted of the heavenly gift," fall away 
and go so far as to declare there is nothing in it; 
moreover to attribute the workings of the Spirit 
to that of Satan. This is terrible indeed, but some 
do it to their everlasting undoing. If you have brok- 
en step with your Lord, do as did Peter, fly back 
to Him immediately, lest you get farther and farth- 
er from Him. 

After Christ's resurrection the angel appeared 
to the women and said, "Go your w 7 ay, tell His 
disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into 
Galilee." Does this "and Peter" take you in? Be- 
lieve that it does! Rise up and declare that you 



230 Heart Searching Sermons 

will yet be a man, and profit by the checkered past. 
You can if you will. "Whosoever will, let him take 
the water of life freely." 

Jesus, let Thy pitying eye 

Call back a wandering sheep; 
False to Thee, like Peter, I 

Would fain like Peter weep. 
Let me be by grace restored; 

On me be all long suffering shown; 
Turn, and look upon me, Lord, 

And break my heart of stone. 

For Thine own compassion's sake, 

The gracious wonder show; 
Cast my sins behind Thy back, 

And wash me white as snow; 
If Thy mercy now is stirred, 

If now I do myself bemoan, 
Turn, and look upon me, Lord, 

And break my heart of stone. 

Look as when Thine eye pursued 

The first apostate man, 
Saw him weltering in his blood, 

And bade him rise again; 
Speak my paradise restored; 

Redeem me by Thy grace alone; 
Turn, and look upon me, Lord, 

And break my heart of stone. 

Look as when thy languid eye 

Was closed that we might live; 
Father (at the point to die 

My Savior prayed), forgive! 
Surely with that dying word 

He turns, and looks, and cries, "'tis done!" 
Oh, my bleeding, loving Lord, 

Thou breakest my heart of stone. 

— Charles Wesley. 



SERMON XIX. 
The Passing of the Wicked. 

Text: "So I saw the wicked buried who had come and 
gone from the place of the holy and they were forgotten 
in the city where they had so done." Eccl. 8:10. 

We are to show you four things from this text : 

I. Who constitute the wicked. 

II. Their opportunities. 

III. The result of neglecting opportunities. 

IV. Their end. 

I. Who constitute the wicked? If we can get 
God's definition of the wicked, it will help us to 
understand the text. God divides humanity up 
differently than do we. We make three classes: 
First, we have what we call the godly. These 
are the people who attend the house of God. 
Then we have what we call the moral people. 
These do not make any profession of religion, but 
are honest, good citizens. Then we have what we 
call the wicked and they are those who are given 
to blasphemy, dissipation and Sabbath desecra- 
tion. 

But God looks down from heaven tonight snd 
recognizes only two classes — the righteous and 
the unrighteous, the godly and the ungodly, ^he 
just and the unjust, those who are headed heav- 
enward and those who are headed hellward. 

In Isaiah 57:20, 21, we get a description of 
the wicked: 

231 



232 Heart Searching Sermons 

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when 
it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and 
dirt. 

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wick- 
ed." 

Notice, there are two characteristics of the 
wicked. He who is void of soul rest, God rates 
as belonging to the wicked. He may profess re- 
ligion and be active in church work, but if he 
lacks soul rest, if he is agitated and uneasy in 
time of danger, God says he is wicked. 

Again : "There's no peace, saith my God, to the 
wicked." 

He who does not possess peace of mind, peace 
of conscience, nor is at peace with his fellow 
creatures — he may be a deacon, a steward, a class 
leader, or a preacher, I can't help it! God says 
it and we must accept it, that he who lacks this 
peace that floweth as a river, the same must be 
placed in the column of the wicked. 

Notice again the expressive language of the 
text: "I saw the wicked buried, who had come 
and gone [from beer gardens, from theaters and 
race tracks? No! From the Red Light district? 
No! But] "from the place of the holy." They 
were church members of the highest order, if you 
please, those who had attended holiness camp 
meetings, those who loved to associate with holy 
people ; perhaps a husband of a God-fearing wife, 
or children of praying parents. But their mem- 
ory was short-lived; they were forgotten in the 
city where they had so done. 



And Sayings. 233 

In Psa. 9 :17, we get another view of the wicked 
We read, "The wicked shall 'be turned into hell 
and all the nations that forget God." 

Who are they? They are those who try to 
keep the thought of God out of their minds. Let 
us see if we can prove this. I come to you and 
begin a conversation. I talk about politics and 
you look me square in the face, and speak intelli- 
gently. Or we converse on science, agriculture, 
or education and you are wide awake and seem 
pleased to discuss these subjects. But let me 
dare to approach the subject of all subjects, and 
say a word about religion, or your prospects of 
heaven and immediately you shut yourself up like 
a clam and look down with shamefacedness as 
much as to say, "Now, preacher, you have men- 
tioned a very unpalatable theme. If you want 
our friendship, if you want to enjoy our hospital- 
ity, if you want our compliments, you must study 
to avoid that old subject, for, remember, we are 
trying to forget God. We do not want to think 
of death, judgment, or eternity. These are un- 
pleasant themes, and you will do us a favor if you 
never mention them." 

This is exactly what you are saying by your 
actions and those who do so are placed by God 
Almighty in the column of the wicked. Remem- 
ber, you do not need to be a blasphemer, drunk- 
ard, or infidel to be damned. All you need to do 
is to be polite, industrious, and highly respected, 
but at the same time have no time or place for 
God, prayer and heavenly thoughts, and, accord- 



234 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing to God's eternal truth, you will 'be as hopeless- 
ly damned as the most profligate wretch that ever 
lived. Do not accuse me of harshness. I am 
simply holding to the good old Book. If you have 
any controversy, have it out with God Almighty. 
He could not take you to heaven even though He 
wanted to do so. Nay, were He to do so, you 
yourself would rise up and protest by the author- 
ity of High Heaven, to send you to hell where 
you 'belong. 

We read, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so 
is he." And you, who from morning till night 
think and plan about everything but heaven, to 
you hell would prove to be a merciful provision 
on the part of God. How could a guilty soul be 
happy in the presence of immaculate purity. Tf 
the law of association in this life demands that 
we have cemeteries for the dead, insane asylums 
for the insane and penitentiaries for the incor- 
rigible, the same law will hold good in the life 
to come. 

II. Next, we are to notice The Opportunities 
of the wicked. The text says that they had "come 
and gone from the place of the holy." They had 
ample opportunity to hear. Yea, not only hear 
ordinary, but extraordinary truth — holiness 
truth. This is a wonderful privilege — to be born 
in a land of Bibles, and come in contact with holy 
people. Surely God will require a just recom- 
pense in return. 

Opportunity is a wonderful thing. They say 



And Sayings. 235 

that every man has at least one opportunity to 
become independently rich. If he seizes it in 
time he will be well fixed. If he lets it go by, he 
will always be a poor man. I know not whether 
this is true, but I do know that every one of you 
have had at least one opportunity to make your 
peace with God. 

You may think that this meeting is here by 
chance, or that you just happened to attend it. 
But, friend, it is more than that. It may be that 
God ordered it all and dropped this meeting and 
opportunity right down into your pathway, just 
before you step into a premature grave. 

When we were in Pompeii, walking along one 
of the streets of that ruined city, we noticed a 
door leading into a little, unassuming room, and 
by entering this door, we were led into a larger 
room. This, in turn, led into a spacious place 
which, at one time, must have been a beautiful 
palace garden, or court for Caesar, Pliny, or some 
other noted statesman. 

In like manner, as you pass through this world, 
you come to unexpected, golden opportunities. A 
revival meeting may be one of such. You cannot 
afford to treat it lightly, or with contempt, for it 
may be the little door leading into a glorious bless- 
ing, which, later on, may open up into a glorious 
heaven. 

Remember you are not here by chance, nor is 
your unworthy servant preaching to you nere be- 
cause he had no other opening. But it may be 
that God ordered it all in order to cross your 



236 Heart Searching Sermons 

pathway, turn you face about and change the 
whole course of your life. 

III. And again, Neglected opportunities bring 
regrets. 

Not only so, 'but the greater the opportunities, 
the greater is the disappointment if they are not 
embraced. 

While conducting a series of meetings at Colo- 
rado Springs, our host one day took us for a drive. 
After going up the "High Drive" we came down 
by that wonderful phenomenon of nature, the 
"Cave of the Winds." 

When we returned home, while sitting at the 
fireside, he sighed and said, "I might just as well 
have been a rich man as not, had I known it. I, 
at one time, owned that hill side which now con- 
tains the Cave of the Winds. But I got tired 
paying taxes on it and sold it for a mere pittance. 
Later, some boys who were hunting, ran a rabbit 
into a hole in the side of the hill which led to the 
discovery of this wonderful freak of nature. And 
now, the man who owns it collects annually from 
tourists, twenty-five thousand dollars every year." 

Yes, this poor man missed his opportunity and 
because of its great worth he was sad. But his 
sadness did not cause it to return. In like man- 
ner, you, careless soul, may despise your opportu- 
nities, and later on, with Esau, seek a place of re- 
pentance, but find it not, though you seek it care- 
fully with tears. 

Years ago, a poor man owned a red hill some 
distance from the city of Birmingham, Alabama. 



And Sayings. 237 

The soil was too poor to raise anything. He got 
tired paying taxes and sold it for a trifle. Later, 
a syndicate 'bought it and since then have dug out 
millions of dollars worth of iron ore and it is now 
the present site of the great Bessemer steel works. 
The poor man did not realize his opportunity. 

Just so, sinner friend, you are selling out too 
cheap, only to chide yourself later on for your 
great loss. Judas sold his Christ and interest in 
heaven for sixteen dollars, but you are selling- 
out cheaper than this. You are selling out for a 
little pleasure, a little fame, a few trinkets or 
silly smiles from a few silly people. You cannot 
afford to do it! 

A few years ago, while in a meeting in the city 
of Baltimore, I wrote my brother who lives on 
the old homestead near Pittsburg, that if he would 
meet me at the station I would go home with him 
for a couple of days. He answered that he would 
be glad to see me, 'but because of the rainy season, 
they were late with their harvest, and consider- 
ing the seven mile drive and the uncertainty of 
my making connection, he thought I had better 
hire a rig to bring me out and he would see that 
I was brought back. For, said he, "We are in the 
midst of harvest, and cannot afford to lose a half- 
day." In like manner, I read from the old Book, 
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended and 
we are not saved." Who knows but that this may 
be your harvest time, your opportunity to garner 
up riches on high? You cannot afford to sleep 
on the brink of hell and idle away your time. Be 



238 Heart Searching Sermons 

up and doing! "Thrust in thy sickle and reap," 
before the storms of Eternity's Winter break upon 
thee! 

In St. Luke, 19 : 41-44 we have a sad picture. 
Here is Christ weeping over the proud, rebellious 
city, Jerusalem. He winds up 'by saying, "For 
the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies 
shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee 
round, and keep thee in on every side. 

"And shall lay thee even with the ground, and 
thy children within thee ; and they shall not leave 
in thee one stone upon another; because thou 
knowest not the time of thy visitation." 

No, they thought they were wagging their 
heads at a 'bastard, at a false prophet, but they 
did not know how soon the tables would be turned. 
Their proud city had withstood many sieges, but 
in only a few years, after they had cried oat, 
"Away with Him," and had invoked His blood 
upon them and their children, their awful request 
was granted. Titus surrounded the city, and Jo- 
sephus tells us that there were so many Jews cru- 
cified that there was found no more room to s 4 " and 
the crosses. 

Some of you who look at the people of God and 
these altar services with scorn and contempt, do 
not realize the day of your visitation. How sad, 
that in just a little while you would give worlds 
to exchange places, yea, you would give all your 
possession if you could only be recognized and 
introduced to the Judge by one of these little ones. 
They will be popular then; and you will do well 



And Sayings. 239 

to cast your lot with them now, that you may 
shine and shout with them to all eternity. 

Three young men in a skiff were fishing and 
shooting wild ducks in Lake Erie near the en- 
trance of Niagara river. When they were through 
they decided to let their boat drift with the cur- 
rent, and before reaching the danger point, pull 
to the shore. It would he fine sailing, besides it 
would be sport to scare the on-lookers along the 
shore. 

Presently an old resident called out: 

"Aha, young men, the rapids are below you!" 

"That's all right; don't get skeered," was the 
reply. 

Now they were going more swiftly, and an of- 
ficer seeing them, fired a revolver in the air to 
get their attention, then shouted, "Look out young 
men, the rapids are below you !" 

"That's all rigtot; look after your own affairs 
and we will attend to ours." 

By this time they were going at a rapid rate, 
when they decided to pull to the shore. But when 
they undertook to use the oars, the rushing cur- 
rent snapped one oar in two and the other was 
jerked from the hand. 

Excitedly they called for help, but it was too 
late. One of the boys leaped out and clung to the 
great rock just above the stone bridge, while the 
other two swept by over the falls and were never 
seen again. 

The one who made the successful leap was held 
fast to the rock by the pressure of water. Men 



240 Heart Searching Sermons 

and women held their breath while officers devised 
means of rescue. At last they succeeded in throw- 
ing a rope to the young man, but he was so be- 
numbed by the mad, rushing waters that his grasp 
failed him and he too rushed over the cataract. 

In like manner, sinner friend, you are sporting 
on the Niagara of time. But remember, you are 
moving rapidly toward the danger point, the dead 
line, beyond which there is no recovery ! 

Do not toss your head and act independent. 
Others have done so who would now give worlds 
for your opportunity. Oh, he warned in time 
and retrace your steps ! Flee to the stronghold ! 
Jesus Christ waits to receive you ! Every mo- 
ment makes your case less hopeful. Trifle no 
longer. 

IV. Their end. They were forgotten in the 
city where they had so done. 

God says that, "The triumphing of the wicked 
is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a mo- 
ment." Job 20:5. And again, we read, "I have 
seen the wicked in great power, and spreading 
himself like a green bay tree. 

"Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not: yea, 
I sought him, but he could not be found. " Psa. 37 : 
35, 36. 

In Luke 16:19 v we read an account of "a cer- 
tain rich man" and "a certain 'beggar named La- 
zarus." It tells us that the beggar died and was 
"carried" by the angels into Abraham's bosom. 
The rich man also died and was "buried." No 
doubt he had a great funeral procession. No 



And Sayings. 241 

doubt the rabbi delivered an eloquent address and 
eulogized the rich man for all his philanthropic 
deeds. No doubt the town officials drew up res- 
olutions of regret over the great loss their city 
had sustained in losing such a public spirited man. 
Perhaps he had been an important factor in build- 
ing up the city and giving employment to the la- 
boring classes. 

But, notwithstanding all these things, he was 
soon forgotten, for he had lived for self and, ac- 
cording to Inspiration, is at this moment lifting 
up his eyes in hell, being in torments. We are 
not told that he was a blasphemer, or a man of dis- 
sipation. All that we know is, that he wore good 
clothes, and "fared sumptuously every day." This 
was enough to cause him to forget God, and now, 
in turn, he is forgotten. 

Years ago, when honorable G. K. Nash was 
governor of Ohio, a young libertine murdered a 
beautiful girl. He was tried, found guilty and 
sentenced to hang until "dead, dead." 

A (petition was circulated and presented to the 
governor to commute the sentence to life impris- 
onment. But the crime was so atrocious that the 
governor refused to consider it. When this failed 
the mother of the criminal went and, falling upon 
her knees, besought the executive to show clem- 
ency or at least to go and see her boy. 

To this, he consented, and without announcing 
his coming, he went to see the condemned man. 
The turnkey unlocked the large iron door and the 
little man, dressed like a minister, stepped in. As 



242 Heart Searching Sermons 

he started down the long corridor toward the 
death cell, the hardened criminal said to himself, 
"There comes a preacher to 'bow-wow over me and 
I refuse to see him.'' 

As the stranger stepped up to the cell, he said : 

"Good morning, James." 

Instead of speaking James turned his back and 
walked to the corner of his cell. 

"Your friends have been talking to me about 
you and I have come to see you." 

"I do not care to talk today." 

"I am sure if you knew the importance of the 
message, you would give me an audience." 

"I have told you I do not care to talk and you 
will do me a favor if you go away and let me 
alone." 

"Very sorry; good day, sir." 

Not long after, the turnkey came in, and walk- 
ing down to the doomed man's cell, said : 

"Well, Jim, how did you and the governor come 
out?" 

"The governor!" 

"Yes, Governor Nash came to see you. Did you 
not see him?" 

"You don't tell me that that little man who 
looked like a preacher was Governor Nash !" 

"Yes, he came to see if ne could do anything 
for you." 

"My God, what a fool I am ! He meant to help 
me but I wouldn't let him." 

He went into despair, 'but it did not keep his 
neck from breaking. The last thing he was heard 



And Sayings. 243 

to say as the black cap was pulled down over his 
head and the hang-man's rope put around his neck 
was: 

"He meant to help me, but I would not let him !" 

Oh, sinner friend, thou Christ rejector, your 
offense is worse than the young criminal's, for 
you are insulting the only one who can plead your 
guilty cause before the bar of a broken law. You 
are now sitting under the sentence of death, the 
sentence of hell fire ! 

You have sinned against earth and high heaven 
and the King is greatly aggravated ! It is a won- 
der that He spares your guilty head ! The decree 
has gone forth, "Cut him down, why cumber eth he 
the ground?" 

The day of execution is set, but Christ the gov- 
ernor of the universe, and intercessor of men, has 
undertaken to get a reprieve and a pardon. But 
what are you doing? Turning your back, tramp- 
ling His blood under foot, and doing despite to the 
Spirit of grace. 

Oh, man, throw yourself at His feet and plead 
the merits of His never dying love. He waits to 
receive you. Let Him in ere He is gone, never to 
return ! "Behold, I stand at the door and knock : 
if any man hear my voice and open the door, I 
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and 
he with me." 



SERMON XX. 

THE GENERAL JUDGMENT. 

Text: "And I saw the dead, small and great, 
stand before God; and the books were opened; and 
another book was opened, which is the book of life: 
and the dead were judged out of those things which 
were written in the book, according to their works. 

"And whosoever was not found written in the 
book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20: 
12, 15. 

We are to speak tonight on the subject of the 
General Judgment. In considering this impor- 
tant theme, we wish to notice four things : 

I. The Necessity of a Judgment. 

II. The Nature of the Judgment. 

III. Those who are to be judged. 

IV. The Result. 

I. The Necessity of a Judgment. 

A final judgment is necessary for two reasons: 

1. We are on probation. In this world men 
are taught important vocations by first being 
taken in as apprentices. If a young man is to be 
a dentist, or a druggist, it is to be expected that 
his work should be closely inspected and severely 
criticised. He should not think strange of it, for, 
later on, when he sets up business for himself and 
the people's lives are intrusted to him, he should 
be so proficient in his line as not to make any fa- 
tal errors. 

We have banks which the people trust with 

244 



And Sayings 245 

their hard earned money. We also have bank ex- 
aminers, or state auditors, whose business it is to 
go around and look into their accounts and see if 
they are doing a safe banking business. This 
auditor comes along when the bank least expects 
him, and, as soon as he arrives, he supersedes the 
president, cashier and all other officials of the in- 
stitution. He is not supposed to take their word 
as to the amount of bonds, stock, or cash in their 
vaults, With a critical eye, he tries to find de- 
fects, or looseness in their methods. This is noth- 
ing more than right, for the bankers are our stew- 
ards and we expect them to do the right thing. 

In likke manner, God has made us His stewards 
over the talents, time and opportunities that He 
has entrusted to us. It is nothing more than 
right that He should look into our accounts and 
see if we have made full proof of our steward- 
ship. We expect our children and those who are 
amenable to us in any way to give an account of 
their doings, and why should not the Graeious 
Giver of all things expect the same of us? "For 
we must all appear before the judgment seat of 
Christ; that every one may receive the things 
done in his body, according to that he hath done, 
whether it be good or bad." IT Cor. 5:10. 

2. The necessity of a final judgment is proven 
from the fact that in this life men do not receive 
their full rewards, or punishment. Many times 
the innocent are punished and the guilty go free. 
To illustrate : Here is a hard working man who 
has for years saved his meagre earnings and now 



246 Heart Searching Sermons 

is about to invest in a little home. He goes to 
the bank to draw his money and on his way home 
is waylaid, murdered and robbed. His mangled 
body is placed beside the railroad track and no- 
body knows how it happened. But the guilty 
wretch who did the awful deed takes that hard 
earned money and spends it lavishly upon himself 
while the murdered man's family suffer for the 
necessities of life. Now, we hold that a judgment 
is necessary in order to close in upon such rascals. 

Here is another case: A we^-dressed your^g 
man, holding a good position and making good 
wages, mingles in good society and gets acquaint- 
ed with a beautiful young maiden. In the course 
of time they are engaged to become hus- 
band and wife. But during the engagement he 
seems to doubt her love and demands an unrea- 
sonable proof thereof. The result is, he skips 
the country while she is kicked from pillar to 
post and disgraced forever. He is able to read- 
ily get another position, mingles in good society 
and again proceeds to repeat his dastardly crime. 
We hold that a judgment is necessary in order to 
deal with such libertines. God, as the guardian 
of the innocent, is under obligation to protect 
them and punish those who take advantage of 
their helplessness. "If I sin, then Thou markest 
me, and Thou wilt not acquit me from mine in- 
iquity." 

II. The nature of the judgment. 

There will be at least two prominent charac- 
teristics of the judgment. 



And Sayings. 247 

1. It will be very impartial. In our earthly 
courts, many times there is special favor shown 
to the rich and those who belong to secret fra- 
ternities. If a man can employ a shrewd law- 
yer, or influence the judge, or jury, he can either 
retard justice, or defeat it entirely. But not so 
at the great Tribunal on High. In Acts 17:31, 
we are told that "He hath appointed a day, in the 
which He will judge the world in righteousness 
by that man whom He hath ordained ; whereof He 
hath given assurance unto all men, in that He 
hath raised Him from the dead." There will be no 
juggling or trickery there. Every one will get fair 
play. "Shall not the judge of all the earth do 
right?" 

Every one will have to stand upon his own rec- 
ord. Even those who have had godly compan- 
ions, and children of godly parents, will be shown 
no special privileges. There will be no signs, or 
grips, or Whispering to the Judge to be lenient 
to certain ones because they were good natured, 
or liberal with their means. Preachers and edu- 
cators may plead their good works. Yea, we are 
told that, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, 
Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name and in 
Thy name cast out devils and in Thy name done 
many wonderful works ? 

"And then, will I profess unto them, I never 
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniq- 
uity." Matt. 7:22, 23. 

2. The judgment will not only be very impar- 
tial, but very searching in its nature. Wicked 



248 Heart Searching Sermons 

men have had their day. The devil and fallen 
angels have had their day. But now, an assem- 
bled universe is face to face with "the clay of the 
Lord/' and we are told that it will come as a 
'•'thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall 
pass away with a great noise and the elements 
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and 
the works that are therein shall be burned up." 
II. Pet. 3:10. 

There has been much quibbling as to whether 
this "day of the Lord," or Judgment day is to be 
equal in length to one of our solar days of twen- 
ty-four hours. But this is immaterial. We are 
told that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand 
years, and a thousand years as one day." The 
great God will be equal to the occasion and will 
find plenty of time to judge "every man according 
to his works." There will be nothing passed over 
lightly. Every thought, word or act that had a 
moral quality attached to it, will be carefully 
scrutinized and weighed. Charles Wesley wrote, 

"And must I be to judgment brought, 

And answer in that day; 
For every vain arid idle thought, 

And every word I say? 

"Yes, every secret of my heart, 

Shall shortly be made known; 
And I receive my just desert, 

For all that I have done." 

In the United States mint at Philadelphia there 
are some remarkable scales. They are so sensi- 
tive that they weigh a small sheet of tissue paper ; 
then, by removing this same bit of paper and 



And Sayings. 249 

writing on it with a lead pencil, one's name and 
address, he can cause the scales to over-balance. 
Just enough lead to write a name and address 
affects the scales. Such mechanism approaches 
perfection, but, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 
God will go further than this and weigh a motive, 
or the intention back of an action, which is heav- 
ier than the action itself. 

Oh, what a sifting time that will be. Methinks 
I see speechless preachers and evangelists there 
who sought the praise of men more than the 
praise of God. Methinks I hear God say to one 
of them, "Why did you call so frequently upon a 
certain family?" It will not be enough to reply, 
"0 Lord, I was interested in their salvation." 
The piercing eye of the Judge will go deeper and 
find out whether or no those frequent visits were 
for the salvation of souls ; or because of good din- 
ners ; or an occasional five-dollar bill ; or because 
of infatuation with a woman. Great God, tear 
off the mask now before we come into Thy awful 
presence unprepared ! 

Scientists tell us that if it were possible to mag- 
nify the retina of the eye of a murdered man, we 
would there see a photograph of the murderer 
who took his life ; we would see photographed the 
last view that the dying man had of his assassin. 
This is all that God Almighty will need to do at 
the judgment. Look into the eyes of an assem- 
bled universe. He will there see depicted through 
the window of the soul every evil desire and 
deed; every deceitful and dishonest look; every 



250 *Heart Searching Sermons 

proud and lofty air; every cruel and jealous 
glance; every suggestive and lustful stare. Oh, 
how guilty men and women will cringe and draw 
back from "Him with whom we have to do." But 
there will be no place to hide, though they may 
pray to the "mountains and rocks," saying, "Fall 
on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sit- 
teth on the throne and from the wrath of the 
Lamb : 

"For the great day of His wrath is come; and 
who shall be able to stand?" How much better 
to fall at His feet now and have His blood cover 
and cleanse away all the past, than to run the 
fearful risk of being exposed to His wrath for- 
ever ! 

In a barrel of apples there is one unsound ap- 
ple. The entire barrel of good ones can never 
make the speckled apple sound, but so sure as the 
rotten apple remains it will ruin the whole barrel 
of good ones. In like manner put an unforgiven 
soul in heaven and all heaven could not make him 
happy. But unless this lone rebel is removed, he 
will mar all the peace and happiness of the re- 
deemed. Get rid of sin and there is no other 
place for you but heaven. Hold on to sin and 
there is no other place for you but hell. You, like 
Judas, will naturally gravitate to your "own 
place." 

III. Those who are to be judged. 

The text says, "I saw the dead, small and great, 
stand before God." This may mean "small and 
great" in stature, or in power. But it evident- 



And Sayings. 251 

ly means that all will be there. This is an ap- 
pointment all must meet. One can break en- 
gagements and appointments here, hut not so 
when it comes to this great event, for "it is ap- 
pointed unto men once to die, but after this the 
judgment." Thank God, it does not say that it is 
appointed unto man twice to die. God is not will- 
ing that "any should perish, but that all should 
come to repentance." 

No, it will do no good to protest, or decline to 
meet God. The small and great with one accord 
will be drawn by an unseen and irresistible power 
to stand before Him. The righteous will hail that 
glad day for it will be a day of vindication, a day 
of magnifying the work of redemption. It will 
be the day of grand review for the battle-scarred 
veterans of the cross. As they file by the Grand 
Stand of the universe, they will no longer be de- 
spised and depreciated, but angels and archangels 
will look on with admiration and delight. "Then 
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the king- 
dom prepared for you from the foundation of the 
world." 

But I see another company as they reluctantly 
approach the judgment seat of Christ, with hor- 
ror and despair depicted upon their countenances. 
They, like guilty criminals here below, would 
give worlds if they could escape, but the 
gravitation of the Throne holds them. 
While upon earth they refused to repent 
of, and confess their sins, but now they are com- 



252 Heart Searching Sermons 

pelled to look at, and acknowledge all the guilty 
past. The. sad fact about each record is that 
there is no atoning Blood sprinkled thereon, but 
each account stands out in all its blackness and 
impenitence. The Great God must vindicate His 
word, for He has declared that "every knee shall 
bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God." 
And since these proud rebels refused to do so 
while upon earth, they must accept the fearful 
alternative and do so now though nothing is 
gained to them thereby. 

Among the "small and great" who are to stand 
before God, we read of certain classes. 

1. "The fearful." No doubt this class will be 
larger than any other. It was so in the days of 
Gideon, when he started out with thirty-two 
thousand men, but was told that he should request 
all who were "fearful and afraid" to "return and 
depart." The result was twenty-two thousand 
returned. Oh, the multitudes who indorse in 
their minds what we preach, but who are afraid 
to take a pronounced stand for the same! Per- 
haps we are preaching right now to wives and 
husbands who have convictions along various 
lines, but who are afraid to withstand the opposi- 
tion that might come from the other. I dare say 
that there are scores of young people here who 
would seek God and take the narrow way, were 
they not afraid of the opinions of their associ- 
ates. 

Oh, how these will upbraid and condemn you 
at the Judgment for your cowardice. Methinks 



And Sayings. 253 

they will scorn and condemn you, yea, curse the 
day they ever met you, or sat beside you in this 
service; for, had you moved out and obeyed your 
convictions, not only you would have been saved, 
but they likewise. The fact that you had more 
opportunities and knowledge of the way to heav- 
en, will give them something to hide behind and 
condemn you to all eternity. 

2. The "Unbelieving." Stout hearted infidels 
and those who have made sport of the people of 
God and sacred things will be at the Judgment. 
But remember, all scorn and contempt will have 
disappeared from their faces. The greatest athe- 
ist would be glad to get the least recognition from 
the humblest saint. Oh, how they will quake 
and tremble as the eyes of the Judge penetrate 
and wither their strongest arguments! Unbe- 
liever, where, oh, where will you hide in that day? 

3. "Murderers." They escaped the earthly pen- 
alty of the law, but as they come into Court now, 
we see them bespattered with blood. Oh, what 
a sight! Men and women who have poisoned, 
strangled, smothered and otherwise put to death 
their fellow creatures, perhaps their own rela- 
tives, yea, perhaps their own innocent babes! 
How the wrath of God will burn against these 
guilty wretches! All through eternity they will 
be attempting to murder and drink the blood of 
their helpless victims. 

4. "And All Liars" Those who have told all 
manner of lies in order to get gain, or avoid de- 
tection will be there. You who have lied when 



254 Heart Searching Sermons 

you gave in your taxes — you who have lied to 
"prove up" on your land claims — you who have 
lied in order to get larger damages for some rail- 
road, street car or automobile accident — you who 
have lied in order to get the insurance on your 
property — you who have lied in horse trades and 
land deals — you who have lied in order to get a 
pension, or an increase thereof — you who have 
lied in order to pass examinations or get positions 
— you who have lied about the ages of your child- 
ren when traveling — you who have lied concern- 
ing your undue familiarity with another — you 
who have lied about the way you spent money in- 
trusted in your care, and all other liars who have 
lied in one of a thousand other ways, will be there 
to face your black catalogue of lies. God declares 
that you, along with the "abominable" and 
"whoremongers" and "sorcerers" and "idolaters," 
and all others who love and make lies, "shall have 
their part in the lake which burnetii with fire and 
brimstone, which is the second death." 

Great God, what a motley crowd of various 
shades and degrees of sinners will be arraigned 
before the Judgment seat of Christ! They all 
might have been saved. God did all in His pow- 
er to turn them into the paths of purity, honesty 
and righteousness, but "they would none of my 
counsel: they despised all my reproof," therefore 
He says, "I will laugh at your calamity; I will 
mock when your fear cometh." 

4. The Result 

A marked feature of the Judgment will be the 



And Sayings. 255 

fact that every one will be satisfied with the re- 
sult. There will not be a single dissenting voice. 
Of course the righteous will be supremely happy 
when they hear the King say, "Come, ye blessed 
of my Father." 

But, on the other hand, though the ungodly will 
hear Him say, "Depart from me, ye cursed," yet, 
with this awful malediction they will unanimous- 
ly consent. There will be no motion to appeal 
to a higher court. Every soul will feel satisfac- 
fied that the Judge did right. In fact, they, them- 
selves, would rise up and protest if He did other- 
wise. And as this concourse of damned souls 
turn their hacks on the pearly white city and 
start down the hot, blistering pavements to per- 
dition, if they speak at all, it will be to say, "Our 
damnation is just and God Almighty would be un- 
just if He did not damn us." 

In this world, we have the law of association 
which compels us to separate the dead from the 
living, the insane from the sane and the incorri- 
gible from well behaved citizens. If this is the 
case here, it is bound to be the case hereafter. 

While upon earth, these impenitent souls stayed 
away from the prayer meetings and avoided the 
association of the godly and if they did attend the 
house of God, they criticised and found fault with 
the minister and saints of the Most High. Could 
such souls be ha.ppy in heaven? Nay, verily, 
but with the atheist, Hobbs, would they not unit- 
edly declare, "Hell would be a refuge if it would 
hide me from Thy frown?" 



256 Heart Searching Sermons 

At the close of the judgment every doomed soul 
will feel a little like a notorious criminal who has 
been eluding the officers for years, but is finally 
apprehended. After having been caught he draws 
a heavy sigh and says, "Well, it is all over; a 
great suspense is broken and I want to know my 
fate." 

After his trial and execution there may not be 
any demonstration, but all will feel satisfied that 
justice has been meted out and the law has been 
vindicated. 

"On a part of the British coast, where butting 
cliffs, from three to five hundred feet in height, 
overhang the ocean, some individuals, during a 
certain season of the year, obtain a solitary liveli- 
hood by collecting the eggs of rock-birds, and 
gathering samphire. The way in which they pur- 
sue this hazardous calling is as follows : The man 
drives an iron crowbar securely into the ground, 
about a yard from the edge of the precipice. To 
that crowbar he fastens a rope, of which he then 
lays hold. He next slides gently over the cliff, 
and lowers himself till he reaches the ledges and 
crags, where he expects to find the object of his 
pursuit. To gain these places is sometimes a 
difficult task ; and when they fall within the per- 
pendicular, the only method of accomplishing it 
is for the adventurer to swing in the air, til), by 
dexterous management, he can so balance himself 
as to reach the spot on which he wishes to descend. 
A 'basket, made for the purpose, and strapped be- 
tween the shoulders, contains the fruit of his la- 



And Sayings. 257 

bor; and when he has filled the basket, or failed 
in the attempt, he ascends, hand over hand, to the 
summit. 

On one occasion a man who was thus employed 
in gaining a narrow ledge of rock, which was 
overhung by a higher portion of the cliff, secured 
his footing, but let go the rope. He at once per- 
ceived his peril. No one could come to his res- 
cue or even near his cries. The fearful alterna- 
tive immediately flashed on his mind ; it was, be- 
ing starved to death, or dashed to pieces four 
hundred feet below! On turning round, he saw 
the rope he had quitted, but it was far away. As 
it swung backwards and forwards, its long vi- 
brations testified the mighty efforts by which he 
had reached the deplorable predicament in which 
he stood. He looked at the rope in agony. He 
gazed but a little while, when he noticed that every 
movement was shorter than the one preceding, so 
that each time it came the nearest, as it was grad- 
ually subsiding to a point of rest, it was a little 
further off than it had been the time before. He 
briefly reasoned thus: "That rope is my only 
chance of life. In a little while it will be forever 
beyond my reach. It is nearer now than it will 
ever be again; I can but die; here goes!" So 
saying, he sprang from the cliff as the rope was 
next approaching, caught it in his grasp, and went 
home rejoicing. 

Let me conclude in the words of James Caughey. 

"Sinner, you tremble at this incident; believe 
me ; yours is greater peril ! Beneath you yawns 



258 Heart Searching Sermons 

the lake, that burnetii with fire and brimstone; 
stand where you are, you cannot ; time will force 
you thence. Salvation is set before you ; it is as 
near, perhaps, nearer now than it will ever 'be 
again; lay hold of it; cling to it with the firm- 
ness of a death grasp. This is your only chance 
of safety ; and it is not a chance alone ; it is a cer- 
tainty; and the only danger is, that, refusing to 
embrace it, you will defer escape until it becomes 
impossible. Then, make that plunge at once ; be- 
lieve, and feel His purifying power." 

"After the pleasures of life are o'er, 
And you shall stand, face to the shore; 
Of the dim land of the evermore, 
Careless soul, what then? 

"After the pulses shall cease to beat, 
When at the throne the Lord you meet; 
Waiting your doom at the Judgment seat, 
Careless soul, what then ? 

"After the heart is hushed and still, 
After the death-dews damp and chill; 
Over your frame of mortality thrill, 
Poor, lost soul, what then? 

"After the trumpet's awful blast, 
After the judgment shall be past; 
And you have come to your doom at last, 
Poor, lost soul, what then?" 



PART II. 

SAYINGS. 

CLOSE CLASS MEETING! 

Does your horse, dog, or child ever look at you 
as much as to say, "I wonder if you really are 
sanctified?" 

Do you thank God just as much when He de- 
nies you of a thing as when He grants it? This 
is perfect submission. 

Do you condemn in others what you find in 
yourself? Would you bear from others what they 
have borne from you ? 

No amount of good works can atone for a bad 
spirit. Plainness, aggressiveness, or radical ideas 
can never atone for an unsanctified tongue. 

When your husband becomes so self-willed 
and set in his ways that you are afraid to reprove 
him, and inquire into his affairs, you can safely set 
it down he is backslidden. 

The very fact that you occasionally speak 
lightly of those who have injured you, or did not 
fully agree with you, proves that in your heart 
you have not freely forgiven them. 

Holiness will fix you up so that you will not 
lean forward when you are noticed and praised, 
nor will you lean backward when you are slighted 
and contradicted. Do you possess it? 

When your wife becomes so sensitive and peev- 
259 



260 Heart Searching Sermons 

ish that you are afraid to cross her for fear she 
will pout and complain for half a day or more, you 
can safely set it down she is backslidden. 

It is easier to say nothing, or too much, than 
to know just when to stop. It is easier to fast 
entirely than to abstain from eating more than 
necessary. It is easier to give reproof than to 
take it. 

Do you know of any person who has two hats, 
or suits — a plain one to wear to common meet- 
ings, and a more stylish one for places abroad? 
This is what they call "whipping the devil around 
the stump." 

The fact that sudden interruptions, inconve- 
niences and disappointments frustrate and worry 
you for the time being is still proof that you are 
not wholly detached from earthly pleasures and 
surroundings. 

God has no limit to His ways of helping out 
needy saints. Test it by putting your case fully 
into His hands, and keeping it there. He has 
thousands of untried plans, and can surely help 
you out in some way. 

Carnality is a cutting thing. Its possessor 
will even consent to turn around and ask forgive- 
ness, if he can only have the comfort and satisfac- 
tion of cutting that one to the quick who is natur- 
ally a great cross to him. 

If you were to tell the whole secret, doubtless 
you would say, "Where I first began to decline and 



And Sayings. 261 

grow lukewarm was at that point where I did not 
quickly and unhesitatingly oibey the promptings of 
the Spirit to secret prayer." 

If you are all the Lord's, and the work that 
you are interested in is all the Lord's, and all 
that you ever expect to be, or have, is all the Lord's 
in advance, then why should you ever worry or 
have an anxious care as to the outcome ? 

The neglect to hear one sermon, attend one 
prayer meeting, embrace one opportunity for do- 
ing or receiving good, may change the whole 
course of your life. See to it then that all your 
"steps are ordered by the Lord." 

Depth of experience is not to be measured by 
the amount of hallelujahs and shouts while in 
meeting and when everything is favorable, but toy 
the power to endure with unwearied patience all 
that God can permit, or men and devils inflict. 

It is simply impossible to give a sharp, sarcas- 
tic answer, or manifest an independent spirit, un- 
til there has been a disunion of spirit within. 
Long before a person acts touchy and sensitive 
outwardly, he has been nursing a sore feeling in- 
wardly. 

Have you gotten to the place where you can 
be imposed upon? Holiness will do this for you. 
You will let God defend you and your opinions 
rather than hold out for your point or rights, and 
thus accomplish your ends at the expense of griev- 
ing the Spirit. 



262 Heart Searching Sermons 

The very fact that you feel so afraid of un- 
clean persons of the opposite sex looks as if there 
was a streak of uncleanness in you that you cannot 
trust in case of enticement or temptation. When 
all the stickiness is gone from the inside, nothing 
can stick to the outside. 

Rejoice not because you are opposed or set at 
naught, but rather rejoice because God's wondrous 
grace saves you from feeling the least tinge of 
bitterness or independence toward those who do 
it ; they may consider it their duty to oppose you 
on some point of belief or practice. 

How to be on intimate terms with Jesus : Get 
alone in secret, and after you have talked your 
heart out, then ask Him to speak freely and tell 
you whatsoever He thinks, yea, whatsoever He 
fears, concerning you and your heart. Carnality 
cannot bear such intimacy very long. 

The principal difference between the justified 
soul and one who is sanctified is not so much in 
manifestations of joy or blessing (for regener- 
ation implies this) ibut rather the absence of all 
unholy tempers and tendencies in times of misun- 
derstandings. How is it with you? 

Do you deal just as openly and honestly with 
the ignorant and inexperienced as you do with 
some old customer, who is sharp and likely to de- 
tect an error? Do you give just as good weights 
and measures when no one sees you as when the 
purchaser is standing watching you? 



And Sayings. 263 

Have you the clear witness that the blood 
makes your heart so clean that the Omniscient 
gaze can scan yon through and through and find 
nothing more that He sees ought to be removed? 
It is your privilege to have just such a definite as- 
surance to heart cleansing. Hallelujah! 

It is customary to excuse backbiting and un- 
charitable conversation by saying, "I would say 
the same to his face." This is no way to excuse 
yourself. Would you tell it to Jesus if He were 
present? Speak nothing of an absent person that 
you would hesitate to speak in the face of Jesus. 
Let this be your rule in life. 

True manliness implies courtesy, gentleness 
and thoughtfulness, and this will produce in the 
minds of the most intimate friends, including the 
wife, a high regard and appreciation for your 
presence. You can depend upon it that there is 
something wrong when there is a lack of appreci- 
ation on either side of the house. 

Does a timidity steal over your spirit when 
you are about to make a decision? Something 
that is not willing to wait and let the thing be 
tested? Something that is afraid of God's decis- 
ions? Such a feeling should be sufficient proof 
that you are taking things in your own hands and 
are about to get out of Divine order. 

One of the places where spiritual decline first 
begins is in not insisting upon getting clear 
through to God in secret prayer. It is so easy to 



264 Heart Searching Sermons 

rest on a form, and the thought that you surpass 
the generality of professed Christians in zeal and 
devotion, and yet with all this to have lost the 
bullet-like penetrating power to pray things to 
pass. 

The sin of omission always precedes the sin of 
commission. It is impossible to yield to sin on 
any line until there has first been a letting down, 
or a disregarding of some plain duty. It is the 
sin of omission which unnerves the soul, and 
makes it possible to take the next step and do that 
which 'beforehand you would not have dared to 
do. 

Should a burglar roto you, would it be right to 
wound him? No! For the law would neither 
shoot at, nor cripple him, and should you do so 
you would be the greater transgressor. In like 
manner you cannot resent injuries done by the 
wicked and be clear. With the light you have, 
God will hold you as the greater transgressor 
should you do so. 

Are you quite sure that every cent that has 
ever come into your hands has Ibeen gotten right- 
eously? Are you sure you have been wholly free 
from false pretention, deception and appropria- 
tion otherwise than you gave the impression in 
order to obtain money? The judgment will settle 
some of these and many other questions, if they 
are not rightly settled here. 

Do you ever feel shaky and uneasy about your 



And Sayings, 265 

experience? If so, do not pass it by lightly. Take a 
square look at it. See if it is as perfectly satisfac- 
tory now as formerly. Do you come up to your own 
ideal of Bible holiness? If you have not the real 
experience it is useless to try to make yourself 
and others feel perfectly satisfied with it. Why 
not be honest? 

If God holds you to a certain line of eating, 
dressing, having pictures taken, keeping the Sab- 
bath, do it meekly, but do not think you are called 
to compel others to do the same. If you feel you 
must tell your convictions, do it meekly, and if 
they are of God He will carry them home and riv- 
et them on hearts. "Hast thou faith? Have it to 
thyself before God." 

When you are unnoticed, do not blame the other 
party altogether. Your behavior may have been 
such as to forfeit his confidence and fellowship, 
hence your counsel is not solicited. He who has 
proven himself faithful in little things is likely 
to prove himself so in greater things. And again, 
he who sees Jesus only is not so apt to notice it 
when he is unnoticed. 

As a rule nothing turns out the way you an- 
ticipate. If you are troubled with fearful fore- 
bodings about a temporal or spiritual difficulty 
quite often you are happily surprised at the way 
it turns out. On the other hand, when you become 
too self-confident and satisfied with your own do- 
ings, you need not be surprised if you receive 
many rebuffs and humiliations. The better plan 



266 'Heart Searching Sermons 

is to keep humble, and then God will not be com- 
pelled to humble you. 

Is your eye always single to the glory of God ? 
REFLECT ! In every letter, in every transaction, 
in all your conversation, in your private and in 
your public devotions ? In short, do you do every- 
thing just as naturally and sincerely as if you were 
a thousand miles away from any living creature 
and no eye but the Omniscient gazed upon you? 
This is what it means to be without guile. 

A universal rule : If you come in contact with 
one who has more of the Holy Unction and weight 
of glory than you have, you will invariably do one 
of two things : either fall in line and manifest a 
desire for a better experience, or begin to justify 
yourself and magnify the faults and take excep- 
tions to something the other says or does. This 
will prove whether you are honest or not. 

The clean saint has the advantage of every- 
thing and everybody. He has faith and prayer 
en his side, and when earthly prospects fail, 
friends cease, and afflictions come, instead of be- 
coming melancholy or rebellious, he takes it all 
as either permitted or sent from the Lord. Sa- 
tan does not know how to handle that one who 
continually appropriates Romans 8 :28 : "We know 
that all things work together for good to them 
that love God." 

Why should I envy another man? If God de- 
lights to honor and use him more than me, perhaps 



And Sayings. 267 

it is because God sees he is more faithful and wor- 
thy of the trust given him than I would be. Be- 
sides this, there is enough slander and criticism 
hurled at him from others to make him feel that 
he pays a high price for his God-honored position, 
without my acting so fiendish as to make the 
pressure against him still greater. Merciful God, 
save me from anything so diabolical ! 

What is the standard of your joy? What 
is it that affords you the most pleasure? What 
is it that you look forward to with the most 
delight? Is it eating, sleeping, talking, making 
money, becoming famous, or some lower form of 
sensual gratification ? Just to the extent that you 
find consolation in anything but God, you become 
an idolater and worship the creature more than 
the Creator. "Set your affections on things above, 
not on things on the earth." 

If your purpose and intentions have been pure 
and free from self-interest, and yet you have made 
a mistake, then humiliation and confession will 
bring God to your assistance, and He will not only 
overrule the error or blunder, ibut will also give 
you a reward for the purity of intention. If, on 
the other hand, your position was tainted with 
self-seeking and unsanctified ambition, then nec- 
essary repentance will enable God to consistently 
overrule it, though He may not give you a reward. 

Have you ever studied the life and character 
of Joseph? It will do you good to occasionally 
put yourself in his place and compare yourself 



268 Heart Searching Sermons 

with him. Are you sure you are saved from ev- 
erything as was he, that would consider entice- 
ment or temptation, no, not for one moment ? Are 
you saved from everything that could not toe 
trusted should opportunity present itself, and you 
positively knew you would never be detected? The 
reason some men rise to high eminence and use- 
fulness and then in an evil hour give way, fall to 
the bottom, and bring reproach upon the work of 
God is that they never had a thorough cure and 
complete deliverance from the tendency within 
that could not be trusted. 

How to know when you are living in the Spir- 
it! (1) There is no reluctance to duty. (2) 
There is no spirit of hurry and boisterousness. (3) 
There is no wildness, nor following sudden im- 
pressions. (4) There is no strained up feeling in 
trying to do something you are not able to do. (5) 
There is no uneasiness atoout you, so as to render 
yourself and others uncomfortable. (6) On the 
other hand, there is no dryness and lack of power. 
(7) There is no stiffness or formality. (8) You 
do not become nervous so as to appear sensitive 
and touchy. (9) Consequently you are not irrita- 
ble and hard to please. (10) Glory, hallelujah! 
Mind your own business and it will be easy living 
for God. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk 
in the Spirit." 

The true estimate of another's worth is seldom 
realized in this life. It is natural to love those 
most who in return agree with us, and do not 



And Sayings 269 

cross our ways. And, on the other hand, we shun 
and avoid those who are the most faithful in tell- 
ing us our faults and failings. This is but an- 
other proof that we are morally depraved, else 
why should we cherish that which has ruined 
millions, and despise that which is sure to do us 
good in the end. God says, "Faithful are the 
wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy 
are deceitful." David felt the value of this when 
he said, "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be 
a kindness : and let him reprove me ; it shall be an 
excellent oil which shall not break my head." 
Reader, you may find at the judgment, if not be- 
fore, that the one who was your greatest cross and 
the most dreaded in searching you out was used 
of God to keep you from settling down and miss- 
ing heaven. Look then upon such an one not with 
depreciation, but with appreciation, since God 
sees fit to use even such to prepare you for glory. 

Have you that kind of holiness that makes 
it easy for others to get along with you? Ask 
your next door neighbor or your wife. 

Have you that kind of holiness that saves from 
pouting or acting sullen when you can't have your 
way? Ask your husband. 

Have you that kind of holiness that makes ev- 
erybody have confidence in your experience ? You 
should have. Others may take exceptions to some 
of your methods or manners, but it is a sad thing 
when they feel grieved with your behavior and 
lose confidence in your experience. "When a man's 



270 Heart Searching Sermons 

ways please the Lord He maketh even his enemies 
to be at peace with him." "The kingdom of God 
is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and 
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that 
in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God 
and APPROVED OF MEN." 

Do you think your witness is as clear as when 
you first received it? Are you as well satisfied 
with it now as then? Do you think you are as 
conscientious and as self-denying as formerly? 
Have you as much of the unction and love for souls 
as you think you once had and ought to have now ? 
Do you think that the feeling you had on that try- 
ing occasion was the way a holy person ought to 
feel ? Do you think the way you spoke and acted 
was consistent with a holy heart? 

Is there something in you that quails and 
shakes when a clean saint gets "burdened and 
screams, or is prostrated under the power of God ? 
Do you feel shaky for fear he is 'burdened for 
you, and will expose you? This looks as if old 
Agag is hid away somewhere. 



ABILITY AND HUMILITY. 



This is a happy combination when once found, 
but like pearls and diamonds, they are rather 
scarce. As a rule one who has great acquire 
ed ability is more or less lacking in true hu- 
mility, and on the other hand, those who are exam- 
ples along lines of humility never accomplish much 



And Sayings 271 

because of lack of push and perseverance. To have 
both properly proportioned should be the prayer 
of all. 



CAVED IN. 



Have you ever seen an old barrel that because 
of improper use or lack of care had caved in? It 
was largely because it was not kept well filled. In 
like manner many holiness professors who were 
once filled with the fire and energy of the Holy 
Ghost are now caved in and look as lonesome as 
an old, dilapidated ash barrel. Oh, that they would 
go to headquarters and be made over entirely new, 
for it is as hard to fix up an old profession as it 
is an old, rickety ash barrel. 



UNION. 

The spirit of unionism is in the air. It is 
not only affecting the social, but the religious 
world as well. Some of it is of God and some is 
simply human, while more of it is unsanctified 
ambition. A great deal of the spirit of amalga- 
mation reminds us of Jonah and the whale. Doubt- 
less the whale was perfectly willing to unite with 
Jonah, provided he could do all the swallowing. 



THE INITIATORY STEP. 



God takes the initiatory step in man's reconcili- 
ation to Himself. He first begets the desire to 



272 Heart Searching Sermons 

do right. If you will not deliberately smother 
that desire, but let the blessed Holy Spirit fan it 
into a flame, it will become the all controlling de- 
sire of the soul; it will utterly consume and tri- 
umph above all other desires and ambitions. When 
this is the case it is easy to submit to God and put 
all your past, present and future at His disposal 
without a single reservation. Hallelujah! 



A GOOD TEST. 



A good and almost certain way to find whether 
a preacher has the genuine experience of holi- 
ness is to see how he behaves when others are pro- 
moted and he is left unnoticed. Simply because 
he preaches with power and appears well in pub- 
lic when he is appreciated is not a safe test. Any- 
one can be full of smiles when everything is going 
his way, but it requires a deep, inward crucifixion 
to keep perfectly calm and restful when slighted 
and misrepresented. Reader, how is it with you? 



A SOLEMN THOUGHT. 



If there could be such a thing as remorse in 
heaven would it not take place after you had been 
there a million years to suddenly recall the fact 
that during the same time a precious soul was shut 
up in hell who might just as well have been safely 
housed in glory had you not been so self-indulgent 
and consequently tearless and powerless to reach 
him ? God help you to thoroughly wake up, then 



And Sayings 273 

go to work waking up every other soul with whom 
you may come in contact. Will you? Say "Yes," 
and God will furnish the grace. 



SPIRITUAL BANKING. 



Some people over-check and some under-check 
their bank accounts. To over-check means to get 
into trouble; to under-check sometimes means to 
fail to invest in a good thing. 

In like manner, on spiritual lines some souls 
over-check or rather over-estimate their real 
strength and thus fall into temptation. Others 
are so conservative that they never venture to be 
and to do extraordinary things for God and hu- 
manity. Let us drive rich trades at the bank of 
heaven. "All things are possible to him that be- 

Heveth." 



THE FIRE GONE OUT. 



There are multitudes of good people all over 
the land who, though still professing religion and 
holiness, have evidently lost the supernatural. 
They are like a stove that though it is well set up, 
and nicely polished, yet the fire has gone out. It 
looks well, but just when you need heat it is lack- 
ing. Reader, is this your case ? Do not mistake 
zeal, good work s, or even radicalism for the heat. 
These simply constitute the stove. Remember, 
nothing can take the place of the quickening, su- 
pernatural life of God in the soul. 



274 Heart Searching Sermons 

INDECISION. 



Indecision is a sign of weakness. Indecision 
has caused many a soul to be eternally lost. Inde- 
cision has brought defeat to many a general. In- 
decision has caused many a good cause to weaken 
and die for lack of a resolute determination. In- 
decision has caused many a man to go into obliv- 
ion who might have been an honor to his genera- 
tion had he but had a definite purpose. 

There are two classes of people in the world ; 
those who go ahead and do things, and those who 
look on and wonder why it could not be done an- 
other way. Friend, decide now to do something, 
even if you stumble over yourself while doing it. 



GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN. 



Dear reader, who can conceive what a power 
for good you might have become ere this had you 
not, by your own self-will and inactivity, thwarted 
and marred God's original design for you. In 
most instances He has had to adopt a second 
choice in order to realize any returns whatever 
from the remaining fragments of your life. 

But, thank heaven, if you will, you can so fully 
renounce your folly and yield your abused powers 
to the service and purpose of God that He can re- 
instate you. If you will live on a lower plane of 
humility and self-sacrifice over against the cor- 
responding plane of disobedience, then God can lift 
you to a higher elevation than before you sinned. 



And Sayings. 275 

God's remedy is greater than man's ruin. The 
Blood can penetrate deeper than the stain of sin. 

"God has His best things for the few, 

Who dare to stand the test; 
He has His second choice for those, 

Who will not have His best." 



EQUILIBRIUM. 



Webster says it is "a state of rest produced by 
the mutual counteraction of two or more forces." 
Every one knows what it is though he may not 
know the definition thereof. You know how 
easy it is when balancing upon one foot 
to lose the center of gravity and to go one way or 
the other. God desires that every one should en- 
joy that poise and "state of rest" that cannot be 
disturbed by outside influences. Many a man has 
lost his equilibrium by a look or a listen in the 
wrong direction. It was a small thing, but it was 
the beginning of a downfall. Get your center and 
keep it, for the more you give way to yourself the 
more will you have to go against yourself in order 
to recover your footing. 



SOUL AFFINITY. 



There is a close affinity between two carnally 
minded professors. 

One person may profess holiness and another 
may not; a third person has the real experience. 
The one who does not profess will feel more unity 



276 Heart Searching Sermons 

and carnal sympathy with the first person than 
with the third. Again, if one who is not real honest 
and anxious to see the worst of his condition has 
serious doubts about his experience he will seek 
to talk and cling to those who smooth him over 
and give an excuse for questionable things; he 
will almost invariably shun those who would be 
true to his soul and help probe in and find if the 
"old man" is still lurking within. How often this 
can be noticed at camp meetings and public gath- 
erings. 

Those who are on the same plane in experience 
will respond to each other more freely than to 
others. This reveals not only the state of soul the 
one is in who is speaking or praying, but quite 
often the one who says "Amen." 



"HOW DOES HE IMPRESS YOU?" 



One frequently hears this question, especially 
relative to a minister. But it is applicable also to 
the laymen, for we all make and leave an impres- 
sion upon others. The question is, is the impres- 
sion you make, dear reader, uplifting, or degrad- 
ing, consistent or inconsistent? 

Think of it! One look, one word, one flush 
of the face, or one movement of the body, may 
lead a soul to heaven or to hell. The only way to 
keep clear in this matter is to "be filled" then "led" 
by the Spirit. There is too much truth in Moody's 
statement that the professed Christian is the 



And Sayings. 277 

world's Bible and "in many instances a revision is 
necessary.'' 



LITTLE THINGS. 



"I don't believe in noticing such little things.'' 
Well, that is true; it may be small but then if it 
cuts off the power or causes others to stumble, it 
is large enough to notice. It is the little leaks 
that finally break the dam or sink the ship. It is 
the little losses that bankrupt the prosperous bus- 
iness. A spider's web can sidetrack the message 
from the wire to the tree or ground. Perhaps 
this is one reason your message fails to get 
through and bring an answer. Little things do not 
make, but reveal character. It was so with Lot, 
and King Saul, and it is the same with men today. 
A straw is a little thing, but it shows more 
readily which way the wind is blowing, or the 
stream flowing than does a telegraph pole. 



YOUR WORST ENEMY. 



The worst enemy you ever had was not the 
man or woman who took advantage of. you and 
wronged you, but, it was your unbelief and car- 
nality. Get rid of this and you become an enigma 
to men and devils. When they think you are 
down you are up, and when you are under you are 
on top. You rise by sinking, shine by giving up 
your own brilliancy, grow tall on a low bench, in- 
crease by being liberal, get your own way by 



278 Heart Searching Sermons 

letting the other fellow have his way. In short 
you outwit the devil and opposers at their own 
game and turn to your account and the glory of 
God everything that comes your way. Hallelu- 
jah! Hallelujah! 'brother, go down after this 
experience. It will make you well nigh omnipo- 
tent, for Jesus said: "All things are possible to 
him that believeth." 



WORTH REMEMBERING. 



Say! Doubtless you have learned many val- 
uable lessons. Have you ever thoroughly learned 
this one : That there are always two sides to every- 
thing you hear? Well, please exercise enough 
grace and wisdom to keep from being easily in- 
fluenced and passing sentence until you hear the 
other side. Surely you ought to give others the 
same right you claim for yourself, viz : that every 
sane person has a reason for what he does. Wait 
then until you positively know why he did thus 
and so. "Doth our law judge any man before it 
hear him, and know what he doeth?" 



"MORE THAN CONQUERORS." 



This is the kind of experience God wants to 
give to every son of Adam. "More than conquer- 
ors" does not mean a constant struggle to keep the 
victory, but after one has gained and kept the vic- 
tory on every line, then to have in addition to this 
enough grace and faith left on hand to overcome 



And Sayings. 279 

the powers of earth and hell and pull other souls 
out of the mud and quagmire of sin. An old phi- 
losopher uttered a great social and religious 
truth in the following : "When the struggle for ex- 
istence begins then the opportunity for usefulness 
ends." 



THE OLD BOX CAR. 



It will be helpful to those souls who are anx- 
ious to accomplish much for God if they can aban- 
don themselves to God and keep at His disposal 
as fully as a freight car is at the disposal of the 
railroad company. There it stands, ready for 
wood, coal, iron, wheat, fruit or anything that is 
dumped into it. It seems to say, "As long as I 
am not my own, I am not responsible whether I 
stand still for the time being or run at fifty miles 
an hour." 

Brother, sister, can you not learn this lesson 
and rest in God as to the outcome ? It is His busi- 
ness to use you and get all the glory out of your 
life He can, provided you keep ready at a minute's 
notice. "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for 
Him." 



DOWN, THEN UP. 



This is the Divine plan. 

There was never a going-down-time without a 
mounting-up-time. And they correspond the one 
with the other. If this be true, then the deeper 



280 Heart Searching Sermons 

we go down the higher will we rise, and we shall 
finally get clear out of sight either way. Spirit- 
ually, this would become a fact, if when one is es- 
pecially helped of God in preaching, exhortation, 
or prayer, he would only retire in spirit in pro- 
portion as God had lifted him. 

But, sad to say, in most cases old self becomes 
so prominent after a little success, that God in 
mercy is compelled to bring on some humiliation 
or defeat to prevent a total backsliding. The 
cure is death to carnality. 



A COWARD. 



A common coward is one who lacks courage, 
but a dastardly coward is one who though void 
of courage is capable of saying and doing under- 
handed things behind your back that he cannot 
say to your face. One way of doing this is to wait 
until you get away and then write a mean, criticis- 
ing letter. Such letters generally start out like 
this : "I felt like saying something to you when I 
saw you, but as I did not get a chance, I take this 
method of doing my duty." What a lie ! If it was 
God who wanted to use one in straightening anoth- 
er out, surely He would have given him an opportu- 
nity to deliver his soul, without waiting until he 
was almost "burdened" to death. 

It is a query how people can profess holiness 
and yet harbor and carry around a lot of things 
that they "felt like saying." 



And Sayings. 281 

Reader, I want to declare to you that Jesus 
Christ can save you from all this stuff. He can 
save you from all personal grievances, yea, from 
even noticing little slights and differences. And 
when it does become your duty to speak, you can 
do it with so much love and greatness of soul that 
all concerned will feel like saying, "Do it again, 
you are the best friend I have on earth." 



IN TUNE. 



It is possible to be so in tune with heaven that 
when anything earthly or satanic is suggested to 
the mind it immediately produces a discord in 
spirit, and instead of considering the advisability 
of yielding just the opposite effect is produced. 
Thus, an unchaste thought is violently repelled 
and replaced with a, better one ; an unkind or un- 
charitable suggestion is met and counterbalanced 
by greater compassion and consideration for the 
erring; covetousness and narrowness are offset 
by greater liberality; a suggestion to view with 
satisfaction your own accomplishments becomes 
an incentive to greater humility and self-abase- 
ment. 

Blessed be God, it is the privilege of every one 
to thus outwit the devices of men and devils. When 
you become dead to all things but God, and learn 
the art of turning everything to your account and 
His glory, then it will be that things intended to 
separate you from Him will simply act as a boom- 
erang to drive you to Him ; then your stumbling 



282 Heart Searching Sermons 

stones will become your stepping stones ; then the 
things that you formerly went down under will 
become the means of lifting you higher to see new 
visions of God. Oh, the glorious possibilities of 
grace. 



MISTAKES. 



Webster says that a "mistake is an error in 
opinion or judgment; misconception, misappre- 
hension, any deviation from propriety." That we 
all have made mistakes none will deny. Some of 
these have been more serious than others. A mis- 
take may be so serious as to be criminal in its 
effect. 

The principal difference between a mistake and 
a sin is the fact that the intention is pure in the 
one, but not in the other. Though perhaps a mis- 
take may not incur the Divine displeasure, yet it 
may kill one's influence and bring havoc to the 
work of God. For this reason we should pray for 
grace and wisdom to be kept not only from sin- 
ning, but as far as possible from mistakes. The 
more conscientious one becomes the more aggra- 
vating will appear even his mistakes. 

The writer can testify of a truth that his mis- 
takes have been greater sources of mortification 
than many of his former acts of sin. Notwith- 
standing the fact that they have been very griev- 
ous to me, I dare not waste time, or please the 
devil mourning over them, but believe God to so 
overrule them that in the end others along with 



And Sayings. 283 

myself may get more good and His name receive 
more glory than had they never occurred. 



MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND PRIVATIONS 
THE MAKING OF MEN. 



Time and space would fail us to call up wit- 
nesses to prove this. Such men as Joseph, Job 
and Jeremiah, with a host of others down to the 
present time, could testify that "we must through 
much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 
On the other hand, such men as Saul, Samson 
and Solomon, with a host of others, have either 
gone down in disgrace or, to say the least, have 
not stood out as all-round examples, simply be- 
cause they leaned to their own understandings 
and yielded to a spirit of self-indulgence. 

The fact is, the human family are so constitu- 
ted that most of us need a certain amount of 
grinding to polish and smooth off the rough edges. 
The conservatives need the radicals and the radi- 
cals need the conservatives. We have noticed 
when either class pull off from the other sooner 
or later the end is disappointment. Doubtless all 
men who have become eminently pious or power- 
ful will thank God to all eternity for the criticisms 
and hardships that came their way. Next to the 
grace of God these have contributed to the wean- 
ing and detaching from earthly things. If then 
these things play such a great part in the fitting 
us for heaven, reader, do not be quick to tear 



284 Heart Searching Sermons 

yourself from them, for thereby many have made 
sad shipwreck. 



LIVING IN ADVANCE. 



There is such a thing as living in advance of 
victories. The fact is, this is the sure way to 
bring about a succession of them. Many people 
wait until the battle is on, such as a revival season 
or camp meeting, then they redouble their dili- 
gence, fast and pray for success, and the result is 
the opportunity is well nigh passed before they 
get in good working order. Is this the way pu- 
gilists and other contestants do ? No ! But with 
constant self-denial and rigorous practice for 
weeks and months, they prepare for the final bat- 
tle. We are passing this way but once and who 
knows but that the opportunity of your life for 
making a special record in spiritual athletics is 
near you. Why not keep so fully abandoned to 
God that when He sees a great opportunity for 
you has come He can thrust you into the opening, 
and not need to wait for you to first prepare for 
the occasion? 



A SULLEN MOOD. 



Have you ever seen a person act sullen as 
though something or somebody had displeased him 
and he was trying to pay it back by acting stub- 
born and spiteful? Such an one is evidently lack- 
ing in grace or bravery, for if he possessed either 



And Sayings. 285 

he would triumph over a supposed injury or go 
like a man and talk it out face to face. But no, 
he prefers to nurse his feelings and make the 
other party feel sorry. One of these spells may 
last from one day to a week according to the sup- 
posed offence. 

The surprising thing is how he recovers from 
his spell without having to apologize or give an 
explanation. No, after such a streak of mean- 
ness he (or she) can suddenly become as sweet 
as molasses and as pliable as dough, so that one 
would never imagine that he could again act as 
mean as the devil. But, look out, 'he can shout 
and exhort one day and when at home look and 
act like a fiend. 

What such a devil-possessed-holiness-professor 
needs is a genuine case of salvation. So be pa- 
tient with him. He will make a good saint when 
once reclaimed from his backslidden state. 



CAUSE OF DEFEAT. 



It requires but a small thing to bring about a 
defeat. Men unfit themselves for great occasions 
and do so almost unconsciously months or years in 
advance. If prize fighters can afford to practice 
various self-denials and undergo painful training 
for months prior to a final battle, how much more 
ought a soul-winner to be at his best every time 
he appears before the public. Many a victory has 
been lost, to the discredit and mortification of the 
contestant, simply because he became self-suffi- 



286 Heart Searching Sermons 

cient and relied upon past experience and acquired 
ability. When one becomes satisfied with pres- 
ent attainments, he not only ceases to develop, but 
disqualifies himself for greater achievements. 

Who can tell but that many a soul will be eter- 
nally lost that might have been saved had it not 
been that a stupid, ease-going and self-indulgent 
preacher was satisfied to see nothing extraordi- 
nary take place in his ministry. God help you, 
man, get some person saved and sanctified or con- 
clude that you need to pray through for yourself. 



TWO CLASSES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. 



There are two classes of young people for 
whom we are sorry. The first class consists of 
those who are so soft and sentimental that it 
seems that there is not enough solid material in 
them to make stable characters. The more their 
parents sacrifice to educate and make something 
of them, the more worthless and Christless they 
become. Many of them are farther from taking 
the rugged, old-fashioned way of the cross than 
had they never had Christian parentage or a smat- 
tering of an education. 

The second class are those who have a con- 
science and want to do the right thing, but find 
it hard to follow their convictions, owing to the 
fact that they see so many preachers and profess- 
ors who set the wrong example. The fact is, it 
has come to pass that he who sets himself to be 
holy and exemplary on all lines must close his 



And Sayings. 287 

ears and eyes to the opinions and practices of 
many good people, including Christian workers 
and church dignitaries. It is harder for young 
Christians to do this than for older ones. 

"Dare to be a Daniel, 

Dare to stand alone; 
Dare to have a purpose firm, 

Dare to make it known." 



KEEPING STILL UNDER PRESSURE. 



We are living in an age of high pressure. 
Pressure may come from the devil, opposers, dis- 
tressing circumstances, or be imaginary, which 
many times is the result of over work, or physical 
depression. It is the (business of Satan to use 
whatever he can to annoy, perplex and insinuate. 
Though he is not omniscient, doubtless he can, in 
a limited sense, foresee a coming victory and he 
does all in his power to forestall the same. 

Oh, that souls could hold still at such times, 
when the tension and pressure are at the snapping 
point, always remembering that then they are at 
the very threshold of victory. The fierceness of 
the conflict means that it cannot last long and the 
fact that "right must finally triumph" ought to 
be a guarantee that it will always pay to "stand 
still and see the salvation of the Lord." 

It is certainly a fine point in grace as well as 
in manners to be able at such times to keep a recol- 
lected mind and hold perfectly still — not to say the 
sarcastic or reflecting word ; not to talk unbeliev- 
ingly or charge God foolishly ; not to make rash 



288 'Heart Searching Sermons 

vows or "become desperate." How many times 
has God's plan been thwarted by doing these 
things. How many times have impatient souls 
defeated their own interest, yea, how many times 
have the best of saints become distracted and 
acted in such a way as to feel ashamed afterwards 
that they 'had not believed God more fully. Let 
us do so no more. 



DISCONTENTMENT. 



Discontentment may come from God, but gen- 
erally from comparing ourselves with others, or 
with lost opportunities. When this distressing 
feeling comes from God, it means that He is try- 
ing to stir us up to greater and better things. In 
proportion as we humble ourselves and believe 
God will we be benefited and honored if we fully 
obey. 

On the other hand, when this feeling comes 
from comparison with others, it is never with 
those beneath us, but rather with those who in 
some respects surpass us. Then the tendency is 
to criticise them and justify self. This always 
gives ease and relief to jealousy and ought to show 
us of what spirit we are. 

It is the devil's delight to get us to look at lost 
opportunities, for he knows that as long as one 
does this he fails to see present opportunities. 
More souls go into despair and commit suicide 
over lost or misspent opportunities than over any 
other one thing. 



And Sayings. 289 

The backward look is more discouraging than 
the forward march. 

Remember Lot's wife. 



SPIRITUAL DENTISTRY. 



You go down to the dentist and say, "I want 
this tooth filled with gold." After you sit down 
in the chair, he begins to tread a machine and you 
cry out because of pain. But the dentist says, 
"I cannot fill that tooth until I first get the decay 
out." He bores on and you say, "Stop, you have 
no mercy at all." He says, "It will feel better 
after it is all done; I am doing a good job, never 
mind." After a while he puts the gold in, and 
then he brings the glass to show you the filled 
tooth, and you say, "I am so glad you took all the 
decay out ; I will recommend you to others." 

In like manner, you must first be thoroughly 
emptied before you can be properly filled. In 
most of the popular holiness meetings you will 
hear them sing, "Come, oh, come and fill me now," 
when as a rule, they ought to sing, "Empty me 
now." The fact is, they are too full already. 
Self-esteem, self-sufficiency, self-will and a multi- 
tude of other vain and carnal principles are felt 
and noticeable in them, and, of course, all these 
things keep God from fully possessing them. Na- 
ture abhors a vacuum, and, in like manner, when 
you get rid of sin and self, the Holy Ghost will 
fill and thrill your entire being. You cannot 
fill a pitcher with water when it is half full of 



290 Heart Searching Sermons 

mud, but you can clean it out and then fill it with 
pure water that cannot be roiled up because of 
sediment in the bottom. God wants to empty 
you and it will take nothing short of the refining 
fire to consume the self life, so that the Holy Ghost 
can control and occupy the entire man. Is this 
your experience? If not, it can and ought to be. 



TRUE AND FALSE IMPRESSIONS. 



Impressions may come from God, yourself, or 
the devil. Let us notice some distinguishing fea- 
tures and manifestations. 

Impressions from the devil are, as a rule, very 
strong and imperative at first, but upon deliberate 
investigation, become more uncertain and some- 
times absurd. On the other hand, those from God 
are often very gentle and unassuming at first, tmt 
by being put to the test, become fixed and estab- 
lished. 

Impressions from beneath are always accom- 
panied by a hurry spirit, such as, "You must do it 
new, or never; if you hesitate, you will lose your 
opportunity and fearful consequences may fol- 
low. 7 ' Not so with impressions from above. God 
allows plenty of time to consider and be fully per- 
suaded. Should you miss one opportunity while 
honestly confused, He can give you another just 
as good. 

Impressions from Satan are usually accompa- 
nied by an unteachable, unyielding spirit, while 
those from God will patiently 'bear and survive 



And Sayings. 291 

contradiction and misrepresentations from friends 
or foes. 

Impressions or leadings from beneath are gen- 
erally evasive and impatient at the thought of a 
thorough investigation, while those from God are 
open and free from deception. 

Impressions from a pseudo-religious-demon 
have a strangeness and weirdness about them, 
while those from God are free from anything that 
is "wonderful" and far-fetched. 

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but "try the 
spirits whether they be of God." 



THE DANGER OF COVETOUSNESS. 



There is no calling of man wholly free from 
danger, and the more sacred the calling, the more 
fearful the judgments in case of unfaithfulness. 
It was so with Uzzah, it was so with Gehazi, and 
it was so with Ananias. God help us that it may 
not be so with any in our day: 

The tendency is to let the "almighty dollar" 
figure too prominently, not only in secular, but 
in ministerial duties. A little more money will 
cause more than one preacher to change confer- 
ences, or even church relationship. Too often it 
takes him out of the ministry altogether. 

But we have been especially grieved with the 
way many evangelists make "merchandise of the 
gospel." If at first he is satisfied with $25 for 
ten days and then finds that he can get $50, then 
$100, and then $150, he will have to keep well 



292 Heart Searching Sermons 

saved if he does not cancel the smaller and pull 
for the larger places. True, his expenses may 
increase, but we have known evangelists to pull, 
get tried with and belittle congregations because 
they did not get the desired amount. They acted 
as though life depended upon it and their families 
would starve if they did not have it. The fact 
was, they were taking money from washwomen 
and others who needed it a great deal more than 
they. Such men may have love for souls, but ev- 
idently more for popularity and still more for 
nickles and dimes. 

On the other hand, there is occasionally a work- 
er who is easily pleased and too often is he taken 
advantage of and given less than he is worth sim- 
ply because he does not make a fuss about it. Some 
churches and committees give just as little as pos- 
sible and thereby increase the temptation for 
the evangelist to go elsewhere. Brethren, neither 
of "these things ought so to be." 



WHEN FAULTS BECOME CARNAL. 



St. James admonishes us to confess our "faults 
one to another" as well as to pray one for another. 
Honest souls are ever ready to acknowledge and 
confess their infirmities, while those who are dis- 
honest evade this command only as a last resort, 
and then there is no reward given, for it is invol- 
untary on their part. 

Adam Clarke says on this point: "This is a 



And Sayings. 293 

good general direction to Christians who endeav- 
or to maintain among themselves the communion 
of saints. This social confession tends much to 
humble the soul, and to make it watchful. We 
naturally wish that our friends in general, and 
our religious friends in particular, should think 
well of us ; and when we confess to them offences 
which, without this confession, they could never 
have known, we feel humbled, are kept from self- 
applause, and induced to watch unto prayer, that 
we may not increase our offences before God, or 
be obliged to undergo the painful humiliation of 
acknowledging our weakness, fickleness, or infi- 
delity to our religious brethren." 

Never justify or defend yourself on any occa- 
sion, especially if you have been at fault. You 
will never be wholly free from faults and infirmi- 
ties while you are in the body, but you need not 
prevaricate when charged with them. Always 
be frank and ready to own a fault or indiscretion, 
and you will thereby not hinder, but adorn the 
gospel of Christ. 

It does not require much if any grace to argue 
your point, or refuse to acknowledge an error, 
but it does require greatness of soul and nobility 
of purpose to retrace your steps, and gladly give 
due honor to the source from whence the increas- 
ed light and knowledge came. Right at this point 
is where more than one clean soul has become car- 
nal again. A fault though sinless may become 
carnal and sinful the moment you go to justifying 
the same. 



294 Heart Searching Sermons 

FEELING HURT. 



There are a lot of people all over the country 
who profess all kinds of grace but who, neverthe- 
less, have to be noticed about so much or they 
"feel hurt." Unless you answer their letters 
promptly they are ready to say, "I wonder what 
brother So and So has against me that he does not 
answer?" And then the carnal independence rises 
and you hear an expression like this: "Well, he 
doesn't have to write if he doesn't want to." Or, 
again, if you should not call around and visit such 
about so often, you will hear them say, "Why do 
you not come to see me? I was at your place 
last," and so on. 

These sensitive people must be humored and 
beckoned to quite often, and if this is not forth- 
coming, they can see nothing to admire in you. 
On the contrary, all kinds of cutting and insinu- 
ating things can be said and written about you. 

But the worst of all, these touchy, idolatrous 
people profess holiness, and that loudly, too ! What 
such souls need is to die out and get to the end 
of big self. Say, if you are the one, let me tell you 
that there is a possibility of your being cured. 
Yes, even you can get so low in your own estima- 
tion that you will hardly know how to take a slight 
or an insult. Wonderful ! No difference how you 
are treated it will be impossible to get a hasty 
reply; nor will you behave toward such with 
"more distance and reserve than before." Then 



And Sayings. 295 

it will be easy to live with you without getting 
under a strain to please you. 

Then every one can treat you about as he 
pleases ; he can notice or ignore you, keep a prom- 
ise or break one, knowing that you are so big 
hearted and well saved that you will not think 
anything about it. I declare unto you this is no 
fine-spun theory, for God is able to do this very 
thing. Give Him a fair trial. 



THE AFTER EFFECT. 



The right way to determine the quality of an 
act, when there is no plain, Scriptural direction, is 
to carefully note the after effect. No difference 
how men may try to justify a certain course of 
action by quoting scripture, or saintly characters, 
the truth that the Holy Spirit writes on every 
unbiased conscience will, if not trampled under 
foot and reasoned away, assert itself. 

"Innocent amusements," ( ?) and every other 
questionable thing, can easily be settled by prayer- 
fully applying the following questions: 

1. Are you willing to see any harm in it? 

2. Will you see any harm in it on your dying 
bed? 

3. Is it consistent with a follower of the meek 
and lowly Nazarene? 

4. Would you want Jesus to catch you in the 
very act? 

5. Could you ask and expect Him to take part 
with you? 



296 Heart Searching Sermons 

6. Does the most holy person you know of 
see any harm in it? 

7. Would you lose confidence in St. Paul or 
John Wesley, were you to find out that they did it? 

8. Do you commune with God as freely after 
it as before? 

9. Can you look to Him for a blessing in the 
midst of it? 

10. Even if it is lawful, is it exemplary ? Is 
it becoming? Is it like the behavior of one who 
is dead to all things but God? 

11. In short, is it to the glory of God? "Wheth- 
er therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, 
do all to the glory of God." 

Anything and everything that is not strictly 
to the honor and glory of God should be avoided. 
Not in a legal sense, but with a glad "amen," 
knowing that He is planning some better and more 
lasting joy for you. Do not work against your- 
self. 



IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? IF SO, WHY? 



Are the ways of the Lord unequal? Does He 
require more of some souls than of others? It 
would seem so, judging from the fact that some 
are held to a closer line of renunciation than oth- 
ers. They consecrate to do certain things that 
others never think about. How shall we account 
for this unless it be for one or two reasons? 

1. Some souls are so constituted that it seems 
their natures demand more crushing than others. 



And Sayings. 297 

They cannot keep humble amid prosperity ; because 
they were formerly so extremely proud, they now 
see a closer line of separation than do others ; they 
seem to be held to a more conscientious observ- 
ance of the Sabbath, relative to such things as 
buying milk and the riding on Sunday cars. We 
might mention many other things that this same 
class of Christians cannot do which others do 
without any apparent compunction of conscience. 
Is it because some dispositions require more se- 
vere measures than others ? or, 

2. Is it because the second class cannot bear 
as strong a tension as the first ? They would break 
or back down before they would permit God to 
pull them through the narrows, into a peculiarly 
close relationship with Himself. They lack the 
elasticity of soul that makes it possible to get in- 
dividual light and convictions beyond the gener- 
ality of professors around them. It seems God 
is compelled to take some souls to heaven cheaper 
than others, because they are of a cheaper mate- 
rial. They are void of the soul-fiber out of which 
martyrs are made. We read that some will be 
saved "so as by fire," but at the same time suffer 
eternal "loss" — their works being "burned." 

While it is a fact that God must save some 
on a cheaper plane than others, such as infants, 
idiots and the "feeble-minded," who wants to con- 
sent to get through on such a plane ? Who is will- 
ing to be put into the second class of saints ? The 
fact is we get what we live for and the more we 
give up the more we get in return. Then let us 



298 Heart Searching Sermons 

put ourselves upon record as candidates on whom 
God can do His best, and despise anything and 
everything that might fail below His original de- 
sign. 



"RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST.' 



These wonderful words were spoken by Jesus 
before His ascension. He was about to take His 
final leave of His disciples, and wanted to give 
His final commission before so doing. He said: 
"As my father hath sent me, even so send I you. 
And when He had said this He breathed on them, 
and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost." 
John 20:21, 22. 

Arthur, in his Tongue of Fire, says that doubt- 
less with this injunction the disciples received a 
marked degree of spiritual power and love for 
souls. Even previous to this they had power to 
cast out devils and heal the sick, but now with this 
additional unction, no doubt they felt more fully 
empowered to withstand everything that could be 
brought to bear against them. 

But what was this additional unction? Was it 
holiness? No, for they had not yet tarried in Je- 
rusalem and been endued with power from on 
high. After He had blessed them, they "re- 
turned to Jerusalem with greed joy : and were con- 
tinually in the temple praising and blessing God." 
They were in a good condition to seek holiness. 
How unlike many today? If a person has a tri- 
umphant, victorious experience, everybody thinks 



And Sayings. 299 

that that soul has holiness, sure; just as if regen- 
erated souls did not live above this world, and 
keep the victory over it, as well as over the flesh 
and the devil. 

What else do we get from this passage ? That 
all regenerated souls have the Holy Ghost, though 
not the baptism which He imparts. It is getting 
to be a popular idea that souls do not receive the 
Holy Ghost until they are sanctified. We read 
in a holiness paper an account of a meeting, and 
it went on to say that a certain number were con- 
verted and likewise a certain number received the 
Holy Ghost, meaning that the latter class were 
sanctified. All truly regenerated souls have the 
Holy Spirit and enjoy His presence as sensibly as 
the disciples did when they returned to Jerusa- 
lem with great joy. They do not have the fiery 
baptism of the Holy Ghost. The disciples did not 
receive this until the day of Pentecost. It requires 
this to burn out and eradicate all sin from the 
heart. 



DIVINE SECRETS. 



"Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before 
God." 

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear 
Him. ,, 

Samson was shorn of his strength as the re- 
sult of telling the secret thereof. 

Good King Hezekiah made the mistake of his 
life when he showed the Babylonish messengers 



300 Heart Searching Sermons 

"all that was found in his treasures." 2 Kings 
20:13. 

Nehemiah felt the importance of keeping cer- 
tain things as secrets between himself and God 
when he said: "The rulers knew not whither I 
went or what I did, neither had I as yet told it to 
the Jews, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor 
to the rest that did the work." Neh. 2 :16. 

These passages go to prove that there is a sense 
in which God entrusts secrets to those who live 
close to Him. Of course there are many things 
He withholds, even from those who walk upright- 
ly. 

Foreknowledge of prosperity and spiritual 
achievements would tend to spiritual pride. To 
foreknow mistakes and failures would tend to dis- 
couragement. Hence God in His wisdom veils 
the future from our sight. Notwithstanding this, 
there is a "secret place of the Most High" where 
every clean soul may not only enter, but "abide." 

Zealous souls often defeat the plans and pur- 
poses of God, by telling (especially in public) what 
the Lord makes known to them in secret. The 
communication received is so inspiring and con- 
soling to them that they are over-anxious to im- 
part it to others. This often gives Satan or some 
carnal person an opportunity to defeat what might 
have been accomplished, had they only kept silent 
and let God work it out in His own way and time. 

It is not always best to make known every- 
thing, even to the children of God. Sometimes 
they prove unwise or untrue. Nor is it good for 



And Sayings. 301 

an individual to repeat every new thought or per- 
sonal commission he receives during special sea- 
sons of communion with his God. It makes him 
frothy, and the next step is to feel secretly exalted 
and self-confident over "the wonderful way the 
Lord talks to me." Clean souls feel humbled that 
the Lord should ever notice them rather than 
pleased that they are more highly favored than 
others. Is this your experience? 



UNBALANCED CHRISTIANS. 



It is unfortunate that many good people are 
unbalanced just enough to cripple their influence. 
If the devil cannot keep one from going to heav- 
en then he will be pleased if such an one will do 
enough lop-sided things to hinder his usefulness. 
There are different ways in which Christians can 
be exemplary and at the same time do strange 
things, hard to reconcile. 

It is too bad that the human family is so un- 
symmetrical that most of our lives are spent be- 
fore we become workmen that "need not to be 
ashamed." And some who fancy that they always 
know how to do things just right are, nevertheless, 
so nice about it that they never bring things to 
pass, nor wake up the dead. 

Now to be more explicit, let us notice some un- 
balanced, or lop-sided characters. It may not be 
you, dear reader, who is photographed here, but 
perhaps you can get some good just the same. 

Bro. A is certainly a fine and liberal man with 



302 Heart Searching Sermons 

his means, but his example is hurtful in that he 
and his family are so worldly in their dress and 
home furnishings. 

Brother B is radical and straight on the dress, 
diet and Sunday street car question, but it is gen- 
erally known that he is stingy and sometimes ugly 
around home. These things hurt his good qual- 
ities. 

Sister C is a power in prayer and exhortation, 
but would wield a much greater influence were 
she more careful about repeating what she hears, 
especially concerning ministers and their wives. 
Sometimes she prays about people publicly with- 
out having spoken to the parties privately. All 
this is unwise, unkind and unscriptural. 

Sister D is more conscientious in speaking 
about absent people? She is a pattern in neatness 
and plainness ; she is a fine solicitor and Sabbath- 
school worker. But all this is forgotten when she 
gets one of those pouting spells, because she has 
been "hurt" or "slighted." Oh, that she could get 
saved from her touchiness and sensitiveness. 

Brother E is a mighty man in the pulpit, but 
it is very unfortunate that when out of it he can 
stoop to do little, unbrotherly tricks ; he is easily 
biased and is quick to pass sentence before he has 
heard both sides. This belittles him and greatly 
cripples his usefulness. 

Brother F is not much of an orator, but is a 
good pastor, calling and praying with the people 
continually. However, there are things that hurt 
him. First, he is careless about keeping his word 



And Sayings. 303 

and paying little bills. Second, he has no family 
government ; the children do about as they please. 
This is a great pity. 

Sister G is a good singer and excellent altar 
worker, but is too masculine and lacks humility. 
If you doubt this, just cross her opinion and there 
will be either resentment, or a multitude of words 
explaining her position. 

Sister H is a rebuke to many when it comes to 
enduring hardships and being self-forgetful for 
others. But unfortunately she is so changeable and 
full of impressions that she lacks poise and force- 
fulness. Hence, nothing abides. God grant that 
we may all straighten up and be our best for Him. 



THREE COMMON DANGERS. 



There are at least three dangers that ruin most 
preachers, and in fact all other men who are 
worth ruining. I say worth ruining because a 
vast army are so tame and worthless that it is 
immaterial which side they are on, as they are 
not forceful enough to be felt anywhere. What 
are these three most common dangers? Love of 
Leadership, Love of Money and Familiarity with 
Women. 

1. Love of leadership. At first the man may 
be unpretentious and his success be due to the 
working out of inwrought convictions. It is not 
long before others of less perseverance and strong 
personality begin to rally round him, recognizing 
his worth. Now perhaps for the first time does he 



304 Heart Searching Sermons 

begin to realize the same. The spirit of leader- 
ship may not have tainted him, but rather a sense 
of weighty responsibility. 

But, sad to say, few men can bear success and 
promotion without a corresponding amount of 
self-exaltation. About the time God begins to 
mightily use a man, he seems to feel called to cen- 
tralize things about himself and next we hear he 
has started a school, orphanage, or movement with 
himself as chief dictator, commentator and (lastly, 
but not least) speculator. If he has not enough 
shrewdness and prestige to buy a farm or city 
property (and let the people pay for it), the spirit 
of leadership in him will next resort to some little 
affair — a mission, Sabbath-school, or prayer meet- 
ing, though it requires miles of walking, no differ- 
ence, just so he or she can be at the head of some- 
thing. 

This carnal thing is, and has been the cause 
of many jealousies, factions and splits. If it does 
not result in backsliding the next thing is to get 
a man so loaded down with human machinery that 
his energies are employed in nursing and running 
that, rather than in effective soul saving work. 
And just to the extent that this is accomplished 
is Satan pleased. 

2. Love of Money. This is such a sly, 
insidious foe that it steals upon men be- 
fore they are aware of it. History shows 
that but few men can handle money without a 
growing tendency to speculate and accumulate, 
notwithstanding they are commanded "not to lay 



And Sayings. 305 

up treasures upon the earth." We fear the judg- 
ment will reveal many a scandal and misappro- 
priation of funds on the part of preachers. Mon- 
ey subscribed and given to them for certain pur- 
poses never was appropriated as the donor intend- 
ed. Or, if it finally reached the designated place, 
it was first used for something else or put on in- 
terest and said interest placed to personal account. 
What a sight! A man professing holiness going 
to heaven with money in his possession rightfully 
'belonging to another, and yet we have reason to 
believe there are managers of schools, orphanages, 
rescue homes, and missions Who are doing this 
very thing. Is this the reason why some leaders 
prefer to keep things wholly in their own hands 
and not be amenable to any one for money received 
or expended unless it be one of their own subordi- 
nates ? 

3. Familiarity with ivomen. Notwithstanding 
the fact that woman was originally and is still 
called a help-meet, yet in the majority of instances 
recorded in the Bible wherein mighty men fell, 
some woman figured prominently in it. Wesley 
admonished his preachers to "converse sparingly 
and conduct themselves prudently with women." 
How many a valuable man has made shipwreck 
because he trifled with woman's affections! Doubt- 
less the was to 'blame as much or more than the 
woman, but the result was the same. Why will 
men deliberately ruin themselves ? No amount of 
carnal or sensual pleasure can be of such priceless 
value as the indorsement of God and an untar- 



306 Heart Searching Sermons 

nished record before men and devils. It is worth 
a good deal, when hurling the truth of God right 
and left, to be able to call heaven and earth to wit- 
ness that you never acted imprudently toward 
any one of the opposite sex. This lends force to 
preaching and keeps truth from kicking back- 
ward. 

Occasionally the world is shocked and horri- 
fied over the fact that some prominent minister 
or holiness professor falls into one of these pitfalls. 
Was it possible that one apparently so conscien- 
tious could disappoint the people thus? It was 
hard to believe, but facts confirmed the suspicion. 
What could have been the cause? Answer: He 
was not cured at the core. He was not wholly 
sanctified at heart. It is doubtful if he ever passed 
through the deep crucifixion cleansing. He may 
have enjoyed blessed seasons of saving grace, but 
it is doubtful if he ever died out to the bottom. 
The devil saw this and so let him prosper and 
climb to a high eminence, knowing that the higher 
the fall the more fearful the consequences. Men 
may profess all sorts of grace, but unless they die 
out to the tap-root of carnality, sooner or later the 
treacherous thing is likely to revive and betray 
them. Such souls can withstand adversity, but 
not prosperity ; censure, but not praise ; hardships, 
but not the fondling and admiration of women. 
Years ago an actor made big money traveling 
across the country showing a huge boaconstrictor. 
He had captured it when young and brought it to 
this country and now it had grown to be as thick 



And Sayings. 307 

as his limb and some twenty feet long. His first 
act was to appear upon the stage and by giving a 
certain signal the monster reptile, with gleaming 
eyes and forked tongue came crawling slowly to- 
ward him from the other part of the stage. Ap- 
proaching his feet the sna'ke wound himself 
around and around his master's .body until noth- 
ing could be seen but a glassy, shining pillar. 
Then obedient to another sign the boa unwound 
himself and crawled away to his hiding place on 
the stage. Of course the people cheered excitedly. 

The actor did this and other tricks for years, 
when he appeared on the stage for the last play. 
As usual he 'bowed, gave the signal and the serpent 
obeyed. With head swaying back and forth above 
his master's body suddenly the human pillar was 
seen to fall. The breathless audience cheered as 
they imagined the actor falling upon a soft cush- 
ion. But the scene changed. He did not arise, 
and when the hand-clapping ceased, women faint- 
ed and men turned pale as they beheld the coils 
tightening and heard the bones of the dying man 
breaking. The venomous and treacherous beast 
had at last given way to his native ugliness. 

In like manner men play with sin and sinful 
desires until they go down never to rise again. 
Friend, you are carrying around something more 
dangerous than a rattlesnake, or a boaconstrictor 
if you are harboring the smouldering fires of the 
carnal mind. 

Oh, the need of having a heart experience ! One 
that, like Joseph's, will give power to resist temp- 



308 'Heart Searching Sermons 

tation even when a favorable opportunity presents 
itself and there is no liability of detection. 

Brother reader, are you free in all these mat- 
ters? Are you leadership-proof, money-proof 
and woman-proof? Never rest until you have the 
assurance that you are cured at the core of every- 
thing that ever caused angels to sin or man to 
fall. Amen. 



THE PERILS OF SUCCESS. 



We have heard people say they were "conse- 
crated to make a failure." God does not ask such 
consecration. He wants every one to make a 
blessed success in life. It may be all right to con- 
secrate to be looked upon as a failure by world- 
lings and compromisers, but this is another thing. 

As certainly as any one "delights in the law of 
the Lord," so surely we are told that "whatsoever 
he doeth shall prosper." Again, "This book of 
the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but 
thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that 
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is 
written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way 
prosperous and then thou shalt have good sue- 
cess." And again, "Say ye to the righteous that 
it shall be well with him : for they shall eat the 
fruit of their doings." This is enough to show 
that "them that honor Me, I will honor." 

But, on the other hand, success is a dangerous 
thing and has ruined more than one man. Human 
nature can survive the howling winds of adver- 



And Sayings. 309 

sity much more easily than the gentle breezes of 
prosperity. 

John Wesley said that "the ill usages, the af- 
fronts, the losses and crosses are better means to 
growth in grace than when everything is accord- 
ing to our liking." 

Alexander Maolaren, that eminent Scotch 
preacher, once said in addressing a body of stu- 
dents: "I thank God that I was stuck down in a 
quiet, little obscure place to begin my ministry; 
for what spoils half of you young fellows is that 
you get pitchforked into prominent positions at 
once and then fritter yourselves away in all man- 
ner of little engagements that you call duties — 
instead of stopping at home and reading your Bi- 
ble and getting near God. I thank God for the 
early days of struggle and obscurity." 

Another has said, "Uninterrupted successes at 
the beginning of a career are dangerous. It has 
caused many a man to fail." 

SOME OF THE PERILS. 

A student applies himself to study and suc- 
ceeds at the expense of breaking down in health, 
or worse, gets the big head and as a result, does 
not bless the world as much as another who was 
less brilliant and had more obstacles to overcome. 

A brother was so poor he could scarcely sup- 
port his family. He ventured to do a little con- 
tract work and succeeded in clearing a few dollars. 
He tried again and in a short time owned a nice 
property and rode to and fro in a fine automobile. 
But now he did not have so much time for morn- 



310 Heart Searching Sermons 

ing meditations or family prayers. It soon be- 
came noticeable that he was not so prompt at 
prayer meetings as formerly and with this there 
seemed to be a growing tendency to pride and self- 
importance. It will be a mercy if his financial 
success does not damn him. 

Here is a young man employed as a clerk or 
agent. He is so apt and dutiful that one promo- 
tion follows another and he bids fair to become 
general manager or one of the proprietors, but in 
so doing he becomes worldly in appearance and 
conversation, desecrates the Sabbath and adopts 
questionable methods in buying and selling. It 
will be a wonder to three worlds if he is able to 
keep a tender conscience and save his soul. 

A preacher brother was greatly interested in 
the temperance cause, and occasionally spoke on 
the subject. It was not long before he was recog- 
nized as a gifted and forceful prohibition speaker 
and during the campaign season was employed as 
a local worker. He could easily do this and still 
attend to his ministerial duties, and it brought 
him a nice remuneration in time of need. But in 
order to get a hearing, then "hold" and convince 
his hearers, he became so pleasing and witty that 
he ceased to be weighty and serious about eternal 
things. He finally left the active ministry and 
gave himself up entirely to prohibition work. 
Thus he became a reformer, but ceased to be a re- 
vivalist. He succeeded in becoming influential on 
one line, at the expense of a more important line, 
and what will he say to his Lord at the judgment? 



And Sayings. 311 

Another preacher, through diligence and much 
prayer, grows until he is recognized as a success- 
ful man. His popularity increases and he is in 
constant demand. His time is now so occupied 
in preaching, writing and committee work that he 
cannot give himself up to mighty prevailings and 
long seasons of waiting upon God, as formerly. 
But, then, he does not need to do so, since he has 
learned the art of preaching and has a number of 
"able" sermons ready on short notice. The re- 
sult is, he loses the simplicity, becomes self -center- 
ed, and shows his lack of humility when not re- 
cognized, or given one of the best appointments. 
It was a sad day when he began to feel that he was 
a "strong" preacher, for generally this means that 
one becomes so conservative that he generalizes 
rather than specifies truth or error. 

THE REMEDY, 

What is the remedy for all this? Surely if 
God calls us to success, such success ought not to 
ruin us. Though Saul's gift of leadership de- 
throned him, Absalom's beauty hung him and 
Demas' love of money took him out of the active 
ministry, the trouble was not in the gifts, but in 
the fact that these individuals were not cured at 
the core. Dowie and Sanford, along with many 
smaller editions, were mightily used of God so 
long as they were "little in their own eyes." But 
either never having passed through that deep, in- 
ward crucifixion to the old self -life, or not keeping 
dead, carnality ruined them. What a pity that 
some one who knew the cure did not >have the 



312 Heart Searching Sermons 

courage to get hold of them while they were still 
teachable and have them seek the baptism with 
the Holy Ghost ! Reader, have you ever received 
this sure cure for pride, self-will and all other 
evil tempers ? If not, you are now carrying around 
in you a tricky, treacherous foe that has ruined 
others, and is waiting to ruin you. Thank God 
there is a remedy. 

"He breaks the power of cancelled sin, 

He sets the prisoner free; 
His blood can make the foulest clean, 

His blood avails for me." 



REWARDS OF SELF-DENIAL. 



All men, yea, the purest finite nature, needs to 
practice self-denial, for as some one has said, 
"Self -denial is the law of life, but self-indulgence 
is the law of death." Christ evidently had this in 
mind or He would not have made it a daily, uni- 
versal test of discipleship. "And he said unto 
them all, If any man come after me, let him deny 
himself, and take up his CROSS DAILY and fol- 
low me." 

Most of the professed Christians ignore this 
plain command entirely, and among those who do 
aim at it, one class turn it into a legal, fruitless 
task, while comparatively few seem able to make 
it a means to greater spiritual, mental and phys- 
ical attainments. This doubtless was God's orig- 
inal design for all self-denial. "If ye live after 
the flesh ye shall die ; but if ye through the Spirit 
do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." 



And Sayings. 313 

God sometimes leaves it conditional as to the 
kind and degree of self-denial to be borne; but 
remember, at the best there is enough ''cross" to 
make it possible to say, "I die daily." 

Now when one spurns his cross and fails to prac- 
tice the self-denial necessary to keep him on fire, 
then of course he suffers loss ; and before he fully 
recovers what has been lost, he will more than 
likely find a heavier cross than the one laid aside ; 
or it may be a multitude of petty ones. 

Self-denial is the ability to forego a temporary 
pleasure for something more enduring. 

Self-denial in reality is self-preservation, for 
it is like depositing money in a bank to be drawn 
out again with interest. 

Self-denial is the art of moving from a lower 
to a higher plane. Just as the mineral kingdom 
allows itself to be absorbed by the vegetable, and 
the vegetable moves higher to the animal, in like 
manner self-denial transforms a lower into a 
higher joy. 

Self-denial is the secret of dying in order to 
live. Just as a grain of wheat dies in order to 
reproduce itself a hundredfold, so the obedient 
child of God voluntarily gives up not only a harm- 
ful thing, but that which in itself is lawful, to the 
intent that Christ may possess him more fully. 
This is the surest way of perpetuating one's ex- 
istence and usefulness. 

"Let him deny himself daily." It is not com- 
pulsory, yet much depends upon the regarding or 
disregarding of this saying of Jesus. Great bat- 



314 Heart Searching Sermons 

ties have been won or lost by adhering to or de- 
spising this principle. It is said that Napoleon 
lost the battle of Waterloo because he was too 
self-confident and said, "Let us have one more 
cup of tea." 

The practicing of self-denial has brought many 
men from obscurity into prominence, and then 
strange to say the becoming careless and self-in- 
dulgent has caused their downfall and disgrace. 

There are scores of preachers and professors 
who will never become forceful and efficient, sim- 
ply because they insist on pampering their appe- 
tites and passions, while there are others of less 
ability who have left them out of sight because 
they have taken themselves in hand and stirred 
themselves up. Yes, stirred themselves, for after 
all, God leaves some things for us to do, then steps 
aside as in Hezekiah's case that He might "try" 
us and know all that is in our hearts. The proph- 
et delared that there was "none that stirreth up 
himself to take hold of Thee." It is quite appar- 
ent then that God leaves it to us to decide whether 
we will go against ourselves in those things that 
in themselves are innocent, but yet weaken us 
morally, mentally and oftentimes physically. 

It takes grace and grit to go against not only 
carnal, selfish desires, but also against many 
things that are purely innocent. This might 
mean to jump out of bed on a cold morning and 
find some place of solitude to pray, but the result 
would be a new sermon, article or book. 

A preacher, though urged to stop off and see 



And Sayings 315 

Niagara Falls, denied himself in order to reach 
a camp meeting before dark. When he arrived 
he was asked to preach and the result was that the 
altar was crowded with penitents. An ease-tak- 
ing, self indulgent man would have missed this 
opportunity. Defeat or failure may date back 
for months or years where the gentle check of the 
Spirit was disregarded. Great God, if this be true 
(and it is) how needful for every one to live in 
eternity now! How awful and yet how glorious 
the thought that souls who are now T in the bal- 
ance may be turned heavenward for the asking. 
But this effectual asking often comes as a result 
of some simple act of self-denial — the declining of 
some article of food, the laying aside of some su- 
perfluous bit of dress, the refusal to read some 
pleasing thing and many other enticements which 
come to us daily. Mr. Law in his "Serious Call 
to a Holy Life," says, "If religion requires us 
sometimes to fast and deny our bodies to be fitter 
instruments of purity, and more obedient to the 
good motions of divine grace ; it is to dry up the 
springs of our passions that war against the soul, 
to cool the flame of our blood, and render the mind 
more capable of divine meditations. So that al- 
though these abstinences give some pain to the 
body, yet they so lessen the power of bodily appe- 
tites and passions, and so increase our taste for 
spiritual joys, that even these severities of relig- 
ion, when practiced with discretion, add much to 
the comfort of our lives. " 

Yes, it is a ' "daily" exercise and like any other 



316 Heart Searching Sermons 

vigorous exercise the more we practice the more 
proficient we become. When we vainly think we 
have mastered all and have no further need to be 
on our guard, then like the sellf-complacent athlete, 
the championship is lost. More than one man can 
date the beginning of his downfall to the time 
when he ceased to be scrupulously conscientious in 
"little things." Oh, be careful ! "As ye have re- 
ceived the Lord Jesus, so walk ye in Him." Does 
this not mean that in order to keep saved or sanc- 
tified we should maintain the same careful and 
conscientious attitude toward all things as when 
we were seeking? 

"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed 
lest he fall." 



THE VALUE OF CRITICISM. 



The after effect has much to do in determining 
the value of a thing. Anything that produces 
fruitage of the right kind should not be looked 
upon as a calamity but rather as a great benedic- 
tion. And this is the result of criticism when re- 
ceived in the right spirit. When received thus it 
mellows, broadens and enriches the soul. When 
received otherwise it sours and hardens. 

Nearly everybody has too high an estimate of 
himself — his ability, his accomplishments, his ap- 
pearance, his ancestry, his native land. If he de- 
nies this, then our point is doubly proved, for he 
is proud of his humility and of all things this is 



And Sayings. 317 

the most damning. Now, since we are so self- 
centered and satisfied with ourselves, it becomes 
necessary for God to call in outside influences and 
circumstances to discover in us those faults or ele- 
ments which we do not see, but which need cor- 
recting or eliminating, if we would arrive at the 
highest point of effectiveness. 

Adam Clarke, in commenting upon Job, de- 
clares that it required affliction, loss of property 
and criticism on the part of three ' 'miserable com- 
forters" to reveal to Job those subtle and deep- 
seated tendencies to pride and self-righteou?ness 
that he did not know existed, but which the om- 
niscient gaze saw should be removed. Others can 
see our faults and infirmities better than we 
can and we should count it a favor to be told of 
that which hinders and cripples us in any way. 
But this is what hurts. Human nature shrinks 
from close examination and beholding its own ug- 
liness. We dislike correction and prefer to be let 
alone and see our usefulness crippled rather than 
look squarely at ourselves. No wonder Fenelon 
said, "There is no surer proof that you need a re- 
proof than that you feel hurt when it comes." An- 
other writer said, "When an enemy reproaches us 
let us look on him as an impartial relater of our 
faults, for he will tell thee truer than thy fondest 
friend will." The wise man said, "He that hateth 
reproof is brutish" ; and again, "He that refuseth 
correction despiseth his own soul." Think of it! 
Despiseth his own progress, his own welfare, his 
own eternal happiness ! Who but a fool or a car- 



318 Heart Searching Sermons 

nal bigot could do so ? And yet, he it is who does 
not receive reproof or criticism thankfully. 

"But," says one, "I do not object to friendly 
criticism. It is the harsh, denunciatory method 
to which I object." Very well ; but since there is 
very little we get in the proper spirit, we should 
accept all we get, let it come as it may. Some 
people never will tell one what they think until 
they get stirred or half mad, and he who criticises 
you in a bad spirit will be a means of grace to you 
if you receive it in a good spirit. "Grant me pru- 
dence to avoid him that flattereth me and to en- 
dure patiently him that contradicteth me. He is 
not truly patient that will not suffer but as much 
as he thinketh good and by whom he listeth." 

In receiving unkind criticism, one should re- 
member that this may be the opportunity of a life- 
time to lead the one who gives it into a better ex- 
perience. The fact is, some people never will see 
themselves, break down and get a real experience 
by hearing good sermons, powerful prayers or see- 
ing saints get happy. The only thing that will 
get hold of some people is to see one abused, con- 
tradicted and misquoted, and yet find in him that 
meekness that answers "never a word." Oh, that 
every one who professes holiness had the ability 
to hold still under pressure and misunderstand- 
ing ! But alas ! In too many instances, after we 
have succeeded in living and praying an opposer 
under deep conviction until he is about to yield, 
we spoil it all by giving way and showing a spirit 
of touchiness and resentment. Thus in one mo- 



And Sayings. . 319 

ment we cancel all the good impressions we have 
made and give sinners something new over which 
to stumble. 

It is natural and easy to pull away from those 
who criticise us, and, on the other hand, to admire 
those who spare and fondle us. Many a man has 
done this to his everlasting ruin. What our op- 
posers say about us ought not to always go un- 
heeded but sometimes be carefully weighed. There 
may be more semblance of truth hid away in the 
calumny than we first imagine. It is not always 
a sure sign of strength or innocence to be quick 
to deny a charge. Truth will bear crushing and 
investigating. The longer it is under, the more 
tremendously it will come to the top and triumph 
later on. Oh, for the ability to wait! 

Those who ibreak fellowship and tear them- 
selves away from their brethren, especially from 
those who reprove and criticise them, may never 
realize until eternity how much they have missed. 
They pull off and become like a ship on the high 
seas, without mast, anchor or rudder. They be- 
come their own light, counsellor and dictator. No 
marvel that so many otherwise great and good 
men make shipwreck and go into oblivion. The 
fact is, we not only need our brethren, but also 
our enemies to rub up against us and help refine, 
and keep us humble. Wesley said, "Expect contra- 
diction and opposition together with crosses of all 
kinds. 'To you it is given, not only to believe, but 
to suffer for His sake.' It is given! God gives 
this opposition or reproach ; it is a fresh token of 



320 Heart Searching Sermons 

His love. Therefore receive them from God (not 
from chance) with willingness, with thankful- 
ness. Receive them from men with humility, 
meekness, yieldingness, gentleness, sweetness. 
Why should not your outward appearance and 
manner be soft?" 

Criticism often discovers a real or supposed 
fault or mistake which leads to a valued improve- 
ment. The editor of "Success" says, "Constant 
success shows us only one side of the world, for 
it brings out compliments from friends and si- 
lences our enemies who alone show us our de- 
fects." 

But what shall we do with our mistakes when 
discovered? Capitalize them! "Every mistake 
owes a man something," remarked a business man 
of Pittsburgh. "If he makes a mistake costii, 
him a thousand dollars, he ought to be able to * 
at least two thousand dollars out of it." Lessc 
learned from our mistakes are of more value j 
us than money. "What is defeat?" asked Wen- 
dell Phillips. "Nothing but education, nothing 
but the first steps to something better." "To 
know how to wring victory from defeat," • a 

noted writer, "and make stepping stones o..l of 
our stumbling-blocks is the secret of success." 
Doubtless, all through eternity we will praise 
God as much for the criticisms and misunder- 
standings as for the blessings and benedictions 
that came our way. Who then can tell the value 
of criticism ? 



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